Yzd 


ra 


A  Tragedy  in  Three  Acts 


Louis  V.  Ledoux 


♦  ♦ 


G.    P.   Putnam's   Sons 

New    York    and    London 

Zbc  l{nfcRctbochcr  ptcas 

1909 


•  «  J » ' 


Copyright,  1907 

BY 

LOUIS  V.  LEDOUX 

English  Copyright  Performance  given  Wyndham's  Theatre,  London. 
March  a6,  X908 
Entered  at  Stationers'  Hall,  London 


Vbe  ttnfcfierbocfter  ptt99,  'Rew  Veirk 


e    c  e    c  c  « 


To 
MY  MOTHER 


iwl65777 


NOTE 

This  play  is  founded  upon  a  story  told 
in  the  Secreta  Secretorum,  a  book  which 
falsely  ptuports  to  be  Aristotle's  manual 
of  advice  to  Alexander. 

An  English  version  which  dates  from 

about  1400,  gives  the  legend  as  follows: 

Alexander,  thynk  of  ye  doynge  of  ye 
Quene  of  Inde  whenne  she  sente  to  the, 
by  cause  to  haue  thy  frendschipe,  many 
presentes  and  noble  gyftes  amonge  ye 
whilke  a  full  fair  mayden  was  sent  to  the 
that  of  her  childhood  drank  and  was 
norschyd  with  venyms  yn-so-mekyl  that 
her  kynde  was  turned  to  ye  kynde  of 
serpentys.  .  .  .  And  certainly,  but 
thou  hadde  ben  wamyd  by  me  there-of, 
thy  seluyn  hadde  takyn  deed,  thurgh  ye 
hete  of  fleschly  kennynge  with  here.^ 

«  For  any  who  may  be  curious  in  the  matter  an 
account  of  the  origin  and  literary  fortunes  of  this 
story  is  given  at  the  close  of  the  volume. 


CHARACTERS 

Indians: 
PoROS      ....     Emperor  of  that  portion 

of  India  now  known 
as  the  Central  Punjab. 
The  Prince  .      .     .     His  son. 
A  Brahman 
Rajah  op  AbhIsara. 

Half-witted  Boy,  who  serves  as  a  Jester. 
Messengers. 


Yzdra's  Nurse. 
Yzdra     .      .      . 

HEPHiESTION 


Proteas 

A  Page 

A  Slave 

Alexander  the  Great. 

Time:  326  B.C. 


.     Daughter  of  Poros. 
Greeks: 

Alexander's    favourite 
General. 
.     A  follower  of  the  camp. 


vn 


ACT  I 


YZDRA 

ACT  I. 

Scene  I. 

THE   THRONE-ROOM  IN  THE  PALACE   OF 
POROS. 

The  Prince  and  the  Rajah  are  playing 
at  dice;  others  are  watching  the  game  and 
lounging  about  the  room.  Some  lean  over 
the  players  in  excitement.  The  Prince 
rises  angrily. 

Prince.     I  play  no  more!    The  time  is 
evil-starred, 
And  dice  have  been  the  bondage  of  my 

house. 
I  play  no  more. 

3 


4  YZDRA  ACT  I 

Rajah.  My  Lord,  the 

luck  may  change. 
Prince.     Again  I  say  the  time  is  evil- 
starred. 
Last  night  portentous  omens  broke  my 

rest; 
A  wailing  jackal  would  not  let  me  sleep ; 
And  once  I  rose  from  hidden  dreams  to  see 
If  yet  the  golden  car  of  Surya  climbed 
The   East,  when   lo!   a   raven,  croaking, 

passed. 
I  know  not  what  may  hap,  but  this  I 

know, — 
Some  fate  impendeth  in   the   womb    of 

time, 
Some  evil  fate,  with  darkness  fraught  and 

doom. 
Whose  shadow  now  above  our  royal  halls 
Hangs  cloud-like,  with  its  lightnings  still 

in  leash; 


sc.  I  YZDRA  5 

But  where  or  how  or  when  the  bolt  may 

fall 
I  cannot  tell. 
Rajah.  When  lightning  strikes, 

'tis  said 
To  choose  the  tallest  trees. 

Prince.  For  this  I  fear 

The  gods  have  sent  misforttine's  mandate 

stem 
To  me,  or  to  my  Sire,  whose  royal  head 
O'ertops  our  empire  in  its  sovereignty. 
Rajah.     Perchance  the  war  with  Tax- 
iles;  perchance 
This  Grecian  Alexander  who  has  come 
Through  Persia  conquering. 

Prince.  Perchance  *tis  he. 

The  Greeks,  indeed,  draw  near. 

Enter  an  aged  Brahman  with  two  or 
three  disciples  following. 

To  you  I  bow, 


6  YZDRA  ACT  1 

Most  holy  Sage.    Your  blessing  now  I 
crave. 

]The  Brahman  gives  his  blessing. 
We  wait  the  King. 

Brahman.  I  join  his  council  here 

And  speak  to  them  of  oracles  fulfilled. 
Rajah.     My  Lord,  the  King  is  even  now 
at  hand. 

[The  sound  of  trumpets  is  heard  and 
the  King  enters  in  state  with  the 
tributary  kings  who  have  a  row  of 
thrones  on  the  left  and  lower  down 
than  that  of  PoROS:  behind  each 
is  an  ensign-bearer.  Then  follow 
the  counsellorSy  bow-bearers,  javelin- 
bearers,  etc.  PoROS  ascends  an  ivory 
throne,  the  arms  of  which  are  fash- 
ioned as  elephants  with  jewelled  eyes. 
Behind  is  a  canopy  of  peacock 
plumes.      The    Prince    goes   to   a 


«c.^  YZjDHA 


7 

throne  on  the  right,  opposite  the  trib- 
utary  kings.      All    how   low   while 
PoRos   ascends. 
Prince.     All  hail  the  warlike  Poros! 
All.  Hail!  All-hail! 

[Poros  motions  the  Brahman  to  an 
empty  seat  beside  the  Prince  and 
close  to  the  throne,  and,  as  he  ap- 
proaches  it,   stands    to    receive  the 
benediction  of  Holy  Water,  the  vessel 
containing  which  is  handed  up  by 
one    of    the    disciples.     During    the 
ceremony    all    bow    low    as    before. 
Then,  at  a  sign  from  one  of  the  of- 
ficials,   the    trumpet    sounds    three 
times.     The  King  rises. 
Poros.     Be  welcome  here,  ye  tribu- 
tary kings, 
Who,  arch-like,  prop  our  dome  of  sover- 
eignty; 


8  YZDRA  ACT  I 

We  bid  you  welcome  here  as  counsellors; 
For  oft  while  wisdom  searches  devious 

ways, 
A  hero  grasps  with  tiger-spring  the  prize ; 
While  wisdom  weighs  the  chances,  valour 

acts, 
And  action  turns  the  balances  of  Fate. 

]Tke  Rajah  o]  Abhisara,  who  occupies 
ike  throne  nearest  to  Poros,  rises. 
Rajah.    At  your  behest,  dread  Lord, 

once  more  we  come. 
And  own  your  lordship.    Clouds  are  we, 

and  you 
The  lambent  stm  before  whose   face  we 

shine 
With  borrowed  splendour. 

PoROS.  Most,  indeed,  to  him 

Is  welcome  given  to  whom  it  most  is  due ; — 
Our  sagest  coimsellor,  our  noblest  friend. 
Who  now  from  lonely  meditation  deigns 


sc.  I  YZDRA  9 

To  come  and  medicine  our  ignorance 
With    wisdom's    healing   words.     At    his 

request 
Ourself  and  each  whose  voice  of  right  is 

heard 
Are  here  assembled.    All  men  know  that 

he 
Has  store  of  precious  counsels  hoarded  safe 
Within   his   mind's   rich   casket.     Jewels 

these, 
That  Life,  the  miser,  yields  alone  to  him 
Who  delves,  unsatisfied  with  lesser  good. 
Through  years  of  patient  toil  in  wisdom's 

mines, 
As  he  has  done;  for  all  his  life  has  passed 
In  learning  to  distinguish  good  and  ill. 
The  real  and  unreal.     He  has  watched  the 

stars. 
And  fathoming  their  courses  learned  of 

Brahm  ■ 


10  YZDRA  ACT  I 

The  sky  has  taught  him  and  the  poptdous 

earth 
To  see  below  the  myriad  forms  of  life 
The  broad  foundation  of  eternal  calm. 
All  this  we  know;  yet  still  we  lack  the  key 
That  shall  imlock  his  wisdom's  guarded 

wealth: 
]Jo  the  Brahman.] 
We  fain  would  learn  the  cause  that  brings 

us  here, 
And  wait  your  words  j    [Turning  to  the 
others] 

but  ere  he  speak,  let  all 
Save  those  who  share  our  counsels  pass 
without. 

[Towards  the  close  of  the  King's  speech 

a  half-witted  Jester,  clad  in  fantastic 

garb,  has  crept  up  to  the  throne  and 

seated  himself  on  the  steps. 

Prince.     Dost  thou  share  the  King's 


sc.  I  YZDRA  1 1 

counsel  that  thou  sittest  there  while 
thy  betters  withdraw  themselves? 

Jester.  Aye,  forsooth.  Am  I  not  wor- 
thy? 

Prince.  What  dost  thou  know  more 
than  these?  \H.e  motions  toward  those 
who  are  leaving.] 

Jester.    I  know  to  remain  sober. 

Prince.  Poor  boy!  No  one  offers  to 
waste  good  wine  on  thee;  *twere  as 
well  to  offer  peacock's  brains  to  an 
elephant  and  say — Good  sir,  prithee 
partake ;  the  morsel  is  delicate. 

PoROS.  Enough  of  this;  peace,  boy, 
peace. 

[PoROS  motions  him  to  leave  hut  he  steals 
in  behind  the  others  and  overhears 
the  conference. 
Good  sir,  we  wait  to  hear  your  wisdom 
speak. 


12  YZDRA  ACT  I 

This  Fool  has  much  abused  our  clemency. 

Brahman.    The    lotus    flowers     have 

spread  upon  the  streams; 

The  Pleiades  have  risen,  wheeled  and  set 

Some  twenty  seasons  since  the  moonless 

night 
When  I,  observing  fixedly  the  stars, 
Saw   strange   conjtmctions   spelling   love 

and  death, 
And  offered  sacrifice,  whose  omen  told 
Of  one  new-bom  within  the  royal  house 
Who  held  the  fate  of  empires  in  her  hand. 
Prince.     Within  the  royal  house? 
Rajah.  What  maid  was  that  ? 

Brahman.      No  more  I   learned;   but 
marked  within  the  West 
A  warlike  planet  flaming  through  the  sky 
That  other  stars  grew  pale  and  one  went 

out, 
But  passing  burned  a  moment  lurid,  red. 


sc.  I  YZDRA  13 

Prince.     Could  wisdom  teach  you  what 
events  might  cast 
Such  shadows  on  the  calm  blue  eyes  of 

night 
That  look  upon  the  world? 

Brahman.  In  doubt  I  left 

The  deep  seclusion  of  my  forest  life, 
And  took  the  long  -untrodden  path  which 

led 
To  where  ye  strove  with  unrealities. 
Rajah.    These    unrealities    seem    real 
indeed, 
To  us  who  strive,  and  striving  win  or  lose. 
Your  pardon,  sir,  I  speak  untutored  words, 
But  from  the  heart. 

Brahman.  Like  soldiers  ye  are 

pressed 
By  those  around  and  see  naught  else ;  but  I, 
The   chief,   observe  the   general   battle's 
plan. 


14  YZDRA  ACT  \ 

Ye  strive  for  present  vantage,  I  for  good 
Unseen. 
Prince.        Yet    both    perchance    are 

naught.    Who  knows? 
PoROS.     We  wander  from  our  purpose, 

sir,  speak  on. 
Brahman.     I  moved  through  darkness 
onward,  till  the  dawn 
Came  stealing  pallid  up  a  cold  grey  East, 
When  met  me  runners  telling  how  the 

Queen, 
In  dying,  bore  a  maid  of  matchless  form — 
Divinely  fashioned  in  her  babyhood. 
Prince.     My  hidden  sister!    I  was  then 
a  child, 
But  do  remember  dimly.    Lives  she  yet? 
PoROS.    She  lives,  but  I  have  never 

seen  her  face. 
Rajah.    That  seems  most  strange. 
PoROS.  The  gods  demanded  her 


SCI  YZDRA  15 

And  I  did  yield,  though  much  against  my 

will. 

Brahman.    I  offered  sacrifice  to  read 

her  fate, 

But  sudden  blindness  fell  upon  my  sight; 

In  trance  I  stood  and  trancM  thus  I  spoke : 

*  *  The  gods  have  willed  the  tender  maid  should 

grow 
In  solitude,  on  poisons  fed  until 
She  gains  their  power  ^  and   this  in  time 
shall  her 
Rajah.     On   poisons    fed,   to   grow   a 

poisonous  thing! 
Prince.     On  poisons!  Sire,  to  rear  a 
Princess  thus 
Is  horrible! 

PoROS.        Yet  thus  the  gods  decreed 
She  should  be  reared ;  and  I  obeyed  their 

will. 
On  poisons  she  was  fed. 


l6  YZDRA  ACT  I 

Prince.  But  for  what  end? 

PoROS.    The  gods  no  reasons  gave. 
Brahman.  At  least  not  then, 

For  on  my  eyes  the  day  returning  rolled ; 
I  knew  no  more.     The  ICing  remembers 

well 
My  words  oracular,  but  ye  are  strange 
To  these  most  sure  events  I  now  relate. 
PoROS.    Aye,  well  do  I  remember;  and 
the  babe 
Was  given  in  charge  imto  a  skilful  nurse, 
By  this  same  Brahman  brought.     They 

took  her  hence. 
And  sent  report  each  year  of  how  the 

maid, 
To  fuller  stature  grown,  grew  still  more  fair. 
Brahman.    As  wise  as  fair,  for  I  have 

taught  her  much. 
PoROS.    At  last  her  youth  has  bloomed 
to  womanhood 


sc.  I  YZDRA  17 

More  strangely  beautiful  than  Love  itself; 
But  so  her  life  is  with  the  poison  charged 
That  death  to  man  within  her  kisses  lurks. 

Brahman.     The    King    speaks    truth: 
her  kiss  is  present  death; 
She  kills  with  sweetness  like  a  poisoned 
flower. 

Prince.    This  is  an  awful  thing. 

Rajah.  And  very  strange. 

Prince.     I  almost  doubt  its  truth. 

Brahman.  Yet  true  it  is. 

Rajah.     But  have  you  any  proof? 

PoROS.  We  need  no  proof 

Beyond  the  oracle,  yet  proof  there  is. 

Brahman.     Not  long  ago  she  kissed  a 
little  child, 
And  some  few  hours  thereafter,  lo!  it  died. 

Prince.     That  leaves  no  doubt. 

Rajah.  It  might  have  had  the 

fever. 


iB  YZDjRA  act  I 

PoROS.     'Tis  impious  to  doubt;  I  am 

convinced. 
Rajah.    The  fever  was  abroad :  it  might 
have  been; 
And  yet  this  death  confirms  the  oracle: 
It  must  indeed  be  true. 

PoROS.  The  truth  is  clear; 

But  what  the  further  will  of  Siva  plans 
For  her  I  do  not  know;  nor  whose  the 

lot 
To  cull  this  deadly  flower  of  loveliness. 

Jester.     [Aside.] 
Oh,  horrible!  horrible!  I  pray  Siva  that  she 
be  not  preserved  for  me. 
Brahman.    Now  come  we  to  the  point : 
three  nights  ago 
A  dream  disturbed  my  rest,  with  presage 

dark, 
That  thus  I  do  interpret:  Persia's  king, 
The  Grecian  Alexander,  eastward  leads 


sc.  I  YZDRA  19 

His  conquering  armies.     Men  and  power 

are  his — 
The  Macedonian  phalanx  none  can  face; 
Besides,  the  gods,  of  favour,  grant  him 

youth 
With  riper  wisdom  tempered;   courage, 

skill, 
And  steadfast  purpose.    Now,  let  Poros 

send 
To  him  the  maid,  enrobed  in  loveliness. 
To  offer  friendship  from  our  kingdom's 

chief. 
And  bind  in  marriage  bonds  himself  to  us. 
Thus  wisdom  reaches  where  your  valour 

fails ; 
The  youth  is  amorous  and  frank  withal, 
And  would  accept  such  offers  frankly  made. 
If  backed  with  other  gifts  befitting  kings  \ 
But  let  him  once  her  poisonous  kisses 

drink 


20  YZDRA  ACT  I 

He  dies  a  present  death — ^most  sure  and 

swift. 
PoROS.     Noneedof  this!   I  fear  not  any 

manj 
Much  less  this  Grecian.    What  have  we 

to  fear 
Who  lead  against  him  fifty  thousand  men 
With  chariots  and  elephants!  Could  he 
With  usM,   wayworn  troops,  afar  from 

home, 
Defeat  otir  army  and  subdue  ourself  ? 
'Twere  madness  thus  to  think!    I  will  not 

stoop 
To  crave  alliance  with  this  upstart  youth, 
Who  smote  the  Medes  in  beds  of  luxury, 
And  knows  not  how  a  warrior  people  fight. 
We  wait  his  coming.     Should  he  dare  to 

come 
We  meet  him  battling  manlike,  face  to 

face. 


SC.  I  YZDRA  21 

We  fear  him  not;  what  says  our  valiant 
son? 

[During  this  speech^  the  Rajah  and  the 
tributary  kings  have  shown  signs  of 
■  ^  approval.     The   Prince    has   stood 

in  deep  thought. 
Rajah.     [Aside.}    Though  valorous  in 
action,  slow  to  strike, 
I  fear  his  counsel. 

Prince.   [Slowly  and  thoughtfully. 'I  Sire, 
your  words  are  just ; 
Before  your  age,  your  wisdom  and  your 

throne 
I  bow  submissive,  yet  my  thought  finds 

voice. 
Tis  rashness  more  than  bravery  to  fight 
Unnecessary  battles,  risking  thus. 
Through  pride,  our  subjects,  wealth  and 

empery ; 
And  when  the  gods  have  shown  in  oracles — 


22  YZDRA  ACT  I 

By  him  made  manifest  who  speaks  their 

will — 
The  way  to  cope  with  present  circumstance 
To  choose  another  means  were  blasphe- 
mous 
And   fraught   with  swift  disaster:    gods 

avenge. 
Rajah.    My  Liege,  till  now  has  Taxiles 

alone 
With  unsubmissive  eyes  beheld  your  reign ; 
Your  only  foe  was  he ;  your  only  dread  ; 
And  first  to  him  must  Alexander  come 
In  marching  eastward  from  the  bounds  of 

Ind. 
Then,  like  an  eagle  when  two  lions  fight. 
Will  you,  unscathed,  behold  the  bloody 

strife  * 
Until  upon  the  victor,  torn  and  weak. 
You  swoop  with  conquering  pinions.  Thtis, 

my  Lord, 


sc.  I  YZDRA  23 

Your  foes  defeat  each  other:  yours  the 
spoils. 
PoROS.   Let  Taxiles  and  Alexander  fight ! 
We,  sitting  watchful,  strike  when  both  are 

weak. 
No  need  to  bend  our  royal  dignity 
Before  yoiing  Macedon. 
\To  the  Brahman. 

Your  pardon,  sir, 
That  thus  we  plan  our  present  policy, 
Observing  not  your  precepts.    Thanks  we 

give. 
And  reverence.    Your  wisdom  passes  ours 
But  not  in  this. 
Brahman.        Nay,  hear  me  speak;  the 

gods 

PoROS.    You   have   not   read    in   this 
their  will  aright. 
Our  choice  is  clear. 
Rajah.  And  just. 


24  YZDRA  ACT  I 

Prince.  My  Father,  pause! 

PoROS.  \R.ising!\  I  overrule  all  further 
conference. 

[Enter  a  messenger  hastily.  He  is 
soiled  with  travel.  He  bows  and 
PoROS  motions  him  to  speak. 

Messenger.  Taxiles  has  received  Alex- 
ander into  his  capital  and  has 
formed  an  alliance  with  him  for  the 
purpose  of  conquering  our  kingdom. 
They  are  already  collecting  rein- 
forcements, but  the  Grecian  plans  to 
rest  his  army  for  some  weeks  before 
starting. 

B RAHMAN.    The  gods  are  swift  avengers . 

Prince.  Ah,  the  gods! 

[The  Rajah  and  the  tributary  kings 
look  dumfounded. 

Rajah.  With  Taxiles  and  Alexander 
both 


sc.  I  YZDRA  25 

We  cannot  cope. 

PoROS.  Our  will  is  overruled 

By  Siva's  will.     The  maiden  shall  be  sent ; 
Let  some  provide  a  stately  embassage 
And  fitting  gifts.     Abhisara  shall  lead. 
[To  the  Brahman.]    Do  you  instruct  the 

Princess  in  our  will 
But  let  her  not  suspect  her  poisonous 
power. 

[He  hows  to  the  Brahman  and  then 
as  the  curtain  fallSj  he  goes  out 
followed  by  his  train. 


Scene  II. 

A  JASMINE  BOWER  UNDER  A  BLOSSOMING 
MANGO  TREE,  OUTSIDE  THE  FOREST 
HOME  OF  YZDRA — ^A  PRACTICABLE  DOOR 
ON  THE  RIGHT. 

YzDRA  discovered  walking  about  and  talking 
to  the  Nurse,  who  sits  at  the  base  of  the 
tree.  Yzdra  resembles  Poros  slightly, 
but  enough  to  suggest  the  idea  of  heredity. 

Yzdra.     The  night  has  laid  once  more 

its  soothing  hand 

Upon  the  eyes  of  Life.    I  sometimes  dream 

That  love  is  like  the  moonlight  after  day — 

A  touch  of  peace;  and  then  the  lightning 

flash 

Seems  like  to  love; — ^this  love  I  have  not 

known 

26 


sc.  II  YZDRA  27 

But  fain  would  know.    Ah  me!  My  heart 

is  sick 
To-night.     I  long — ^and  yet  for  what  I  long 
I  cannot  tell. 

\She  moves  about  touching  the  flowers 
tenderly. 

The  placid  moonlight  rests 
Upon  my  jasmine  flowers  that  gleam  like 

stars  ; 
The  timid  fawns,  the  birds  are  all    at 

peace, 
Save  only  Bulbul,  who  with  passionate 

heart 
Still  yearns,  and  yearning  cries  across  the 

night 
A  sadness  imdefined  that  answers  mine. 
How  beautiful  is  this  our  forest  home, 
Where   every  season   brings   some   fresh 

delight! 
And  yet  I  find  no  more  the  old  content 


28  YZDRA  ACT  I 

In  birds  and  flowers,  the  moonlight  and 
the  dawn. 

[After  a  pause  she  goes  over  to  the  Nurse  , 
kneels  down  and  starts  to  put  her 
cheek    against    the    Nurse's.     The 
Nurse   shrinks   away   and   pushes 
her  hack. 
My  life  is  incomplete,  it  something  lacks ; 
Perchance  this  very  love  I  dream  about. 
Wotdd  I  be  happy  could  I  feel  a  kiss — 
A  warrior's  kisses  burning  on  my  lips, 
Strong  hands  about  my  breasts;  a  man's 

strong  hands 
And  not  like  his — ^the  only  man  I  know? 
This  Brahman  makes  me  shudder,  yet  is 
kind. 
Nurse.     It  may  be  even  now  a  lover 

comes. 
YzDRA.     [Playfully. 1    Who  seeks  for  me 
alone  throughout  the  world  ? 


sc.  n  YZDRA  29 

[T/^    Nurse    makes   an   iU-tempered 
gesture  of  assent. 
And  Kama's  shafts  at  last  shall  sting  in 

me 
No  more  a  girl,  but  woman  fully  grown? 
Enter  the  Brahman.    He  hears  the  last  lines. 
Brahman.     You  dream  of  love ;  I  love's 
fulfilment  bring. 

[He  blesses  her.     The  Nurse  goes  into 
the  house. 
Yzdra.    With  blessing,  holy  sage,  your 
pardon  give 
That  thus  my  inmost  mind  is  disarrayed, 
And  all  my  heart  disclosed  to  your  ear. 
Accept,  although  delayed,  no  less  sincere 
A  welcome. 

Brahman.    Fair  you  seem  to-night,  and 
pure 
As  conquering  souls  that  merge  themselves 
in  Brahm. 


30  yZDRA  ACT  I 

Tis  right  a  maiden*s  heart  should  dream 

of  love, 
For  so  the  gods  have  willed.    These  moon- 
lit flowers 
With  nature's  incense  fill  the  drowsy  air; 
'T  were  hard,  my  child,  to  leave  so  sweet 
a  spot! 
YzDRA.     Not  hard  for  me!  I  ftdl  confes- 
sion make, 
Since  you  of  half  my  coimsel  are  aware  ; 
This  solitude  and  silence  pall  me  qmte; 
A  woman  grown,  I  long  for  woman's  life ; — 
To  see  the  ways  of  cities  and  the  court, 
To  know  the  valiant  princes  of  my  race. 
To  smile  above  the  tourney,  choosing  out 
Some  hero  who  will  call  me  "  Queen  "  and 

-Wife"; 
And  after  that  to  live  as  she  of  whom 
Our  ancient  writings  speak,  whose  love 
was  strong 


sc.  II  YZDRA  31 

To  bend  relentless  Yama  to  its  will, 

And  bring  her  lord  from  death's  domain  to 

life. 
And  then  I  long  to  do  some  worthy  deed, 
Or  service  for  the  State. 

Brahman.  Aye,  that  were  good. 

YzDRA.     *Tis    stirely  best  to  live  and 

not  to  dream. 
Brahman.    \Wiih  double  meaningi-hal] 
to  himself,}    A  maiden's  dreams  are 
far  indeed  from  life. 
Yzdra.     Ftdl-well  I  know  the  blossom- 
ing of  flowers, 
The  KoeFs  cry,  the  rise  and  set  of  stars. 
But  yet  I  miss  the  meaning  of  the  world 
Off  here  alone ;  of  much  rest  ignorant, 
And  much — ^yea,  very  much  I  lack.     Good 

sir. 
My  words  are  wild  and  may  offend,  but 
speak 


32  YZDRA  ACT  I 

I  must. 

Brahman.     Some  deed  of  courage  you 

would  do? 
YzDRA.     To  do  is  mine,  to  act ;  for  I  am 
'strong; 
Yea,  very  strong,  and  was  not  bom  to 

watch 
The  dull  monotony  of  dawn  and  dusk 
In  meaningless  passivity.    There  flows 
Within  my  veins  a  warrior-people's  blood ; 
I  long  to  live  my  life  before  men's  eyes, — 
A  princess  of  my  house. 

B  RAHMAN  What  would  you  do  ? 

YzDRA.     What  Siva  plans  for  me — ^that 
wotdd  I  do, 
But  well  I  know  I  was  not  made  for  this 
Half  life,  grown  empty  now  of  good  or 

charm. 
I  long  to  live  my  life,  to  do  some  deed, 
And  live  in  fame  to  future  ages  simg. 


sc.  II  YZDRA  33 

Brahman.     You  have  been  still  a  child, 
but  now  you  seem 
A  very  woman,  yea,  a  queen  indeed. 
YzDRA.     Part   girl,   part   woman,    and 
part  man  I  think. 
But  all  alive  with  youth  and  eagerness 
To  do  and  dare,  to  live,  and  greatly  love. 
Ah,  life  I  crave  with  all  its  splendid  chance. 
Its  days  of  action  and  its  nights  of  love ; 
Not  this   poor  shadow-world  wherein   I 

faint  ; 
Yet  know  my  strength. 
Brahman.  What   further 

would  you  ask 
Or  tell? 

YzDRA.    The  nurse,  who  loved  me  well 
of  old, 
Has  acted  strangely  toward  me;  now  no 

more 
She  lets  me  nestle  close,  or  kiss  her  cheek. 


34  YZDRA  ACii 

As  was  my  wont.    And  once,  not  long 

ago— 
It  was  the  day  I  found  the  first  spring  rose- — 
There  came  a  child,  who,  heeding  not  his 

way, 
Ha,d  hither  roamed.      I  took  the  baby  up 
And  held  it  to  my  heart  and  kissed  its  lips, 
When   lo!     my  nurse   came   running   in 

affright, 
And  snatched  it  from  me;  then,  before  the 

dusk, 
A  fearful  sickness  through  its  body  stole; 
And  when  the  morning  bloomed  I  foimd  it 

dead. 
But  she  avoids  my  questions,  tells  me 

naught. 

Enter  Nurse. 
I  ask  you  this:  Why  did  she  snatch  it  so? 
Brahman.    The  fever  kills  thus  swiftly 

oftentimes. 


sc.  II  YZDRA  135 

YzDRA.     But  why  must  I — a  woman — 
live  deprived 
Of  full-orbed  life  and  love?    You  cage  me 

here 
By  what  authority? 

Brahman.     \^Aside\     Poor  child!  Poor 
child! 
This  life  she  craves  bears  bitter  fruit  for 
her, 

\To  YzDRA. 

My  Yzdra,  now  has  come  the  time  of  your 

Releasement ;  now  I  lead  you  out  toward 

life, 
That  seems  so  beautiful  when  seen  afar — 
Toward  life  and  love. 

Yzdra.      Toward  love  ?  Oh  tell  me  who ! 
What  way  of  life  is  mine,  what   happy 
fate? 
Brahman.     With  you  I  go  to  seek  an 
emperor 


36  YZDRA  ACT  I 

Who  rules  o'er  half  the  world — a  valiant 

man 
And  young;  to  him  would  Poros  give  your 

hand, 
A  bond  of  firm  alliance  'tween  the  states. 
The  rest  I  shall  imfold  within  the  house. 
Nurse.  \Aside!\    A  bond  of  death!  I 

would  not  have  his  lot. 
YzDRA.     [Dreamily.]    An   emperor,   a 

valiant  man,  and  young! 
[Turning  to  him.]  How  could  a  maiden 

reared  in  forest  ways 
And  ignorant  of  courts  succeed  to  please 
A  king  like  him — 
[Murmuring.]    who    rules    o*er    half    the 

world  ? 
Brahman.    A  woman's  instinct  teaches 

more  than  courts. 
YzDRA.     But  look!  The  petals  of  the 

dawn  unfold, 


sc.  II  YZDRA  37 

Like  woman's  love  from  girlhood  blossom- 
ing— 
A  presage  this  of  future  happiness. 
Brahman.     I    follow   you   within. 
YzDRA.  Till  then,  farewell. 

\She  bows  for  his   blessing  and  then 
walks  toward  the  house. 
Brahman.    [To  Nurse.]    At  court  will 
Poros  give  you  recompense. 
We  shall  not  need  you  more. 

Yzdra  Can  she  not  come  ? 

Brahman.    You  will  not  want  her  in 

the  glad  new  life. 
Yzdra.    Farewell,  then,  nurse,  and  give 
me  joy  at  last. 

[She   goes   up   to   embrace   her.     The 
Nurse  shoves  her  away. 
Nurse.     Nay,  touch  me  not. 
[To  the  Brahman.]    I  am  well  rid  of  her. 
I  go  to  seek  the  King  and  claim  my  wage. 


38  YZDRA  ACT  I 

YzDRA.     You  will  not  say  '  *  Farewell ' '  ? 
[The  Nurse  goes  off  toward  the  forest. 
YzDRA  looks  sadly  after  her  for  a 
moment. 
What  can  it  mean? 

[Exit  YzDRA  into  the  house. 
Brahman.    [After  a  pause.      Watching 
her.]    The  ways  of  Fate  are  dark  and 
hard  to  tread. 

Enter  Rajah. 
Rajah.     I  trust  she  will  be  ready  by  the 

mom. 
Brahman.    Aye!    ready    will    she    be, 
and  glad  she  is 
To  learn  of  life. 

Rajah.  Poor  child!  She  does  not 

guess 
Her  power? 
Brahman.     No,  and  never  shall  guess 
till 


sc.  II  YZDRA  39 

The  deed  is  done;  for  all  the  retinue, 
Except  ourselves,  are  ignorant  as  she. 
Rajah.     I  bring  the  King's  provision 

to  her  house. 
Brahman.     Much  yet  remains  to  do; 

I  go  within. 
Rajah.     She  must  be  kept  aloof  from 

all  her  maids. 
Brahman.     I  will  arrange  for  that. 
Rajah.  Now  fare  you  well. 

{Exeunt — the  Brahman  into  the  house 
and  the  Rajah  toward  the  forest. 
The  stage  is  vacant  for  a  moment, 
then  attendants  carry  equipments  into 
the  house.  Ojte  of  them  leaves  a  spear 
beside  the  door.  After  some  have 
come  out  again,  enter  Yzdra  from 
the  house.  Voices  are  heard  within. 
Yzdra.  Oh,  Life!  Life!  Life!  An  em- 
peror and  young; 


40  YZDRA  ACT  I 

A  valiant  man;  and  Persia's  king  as  well. 
Have  dreams  come  true?    My  head  is  all 

awhirl. 
But  why  have  I  been  kept  till  now,  so  long 
In  solitude  and  ignorance?    Why  must 

they  still 
Slink  sideways  from  my  questions,  tell  me 

not 
What  most  I  seek  to  learn — ^why  this  has 

been? 
There  is  some  mystery  •  but  now,  ah,  well ! 
It  does  not  matter  now,  for  life  is  mine. 
But,  soft!  for  someone  comes. 

Enter  the  Jester  from  the  forest. 
[He  appears  frightened  and  dishevelled, 
and  looks  about  him  half  timorously, 
half  vacantly. 

What  wouldst  thou  here? 
Jester.     I  followed  on  their  track  that 
I  might  see 


sc.  II  YZDRA  41 

Them  when  they  start. 

YzDRA.  Who  start,  and  who  art 

thou? 

Jester.     It  has  been  very  dark,  and  far 
it  seems 
From  home.  I  wish  that  I  were  back  again. 
What  noise  is  that? 

YzDRA.       A  beast  that  passed,  no  more. 

Jester.     I    wish   that    I    were   safely 
back  again. 

YzDRA.     Whence  didst  thou  come? 

Jester.  I  know  not  who  you  are . 

YzDRA.     I  am  the  Princess  Yzdra ;  who 
art  thou? 

Jester.    The  Princess  Yzdra? 

Yzdra.  Nay,  it  is  not  strange 

That  thou  hast  never  heard  of  me,  for  all 
My  life  till  now  has  passed  in  solitude — 
Alone  from  infancy. 

Jester.     \Not  quite  understanding  hut 


42  YZDRA  ACT  I 

remembering  dimly. ^    In  solitude? 
Alone?  [Yzdra  moves  toward  him. 

YzDRA.     But  tell  me  what  thou  seekest, 
then 
The  Brahman  here  will  teach  us  of  the 
way. 
Jester.    The  Brahman?    You,  alone? 
[She  steps  nearer  to  him  and  he  shrinks 
away,  hut  does  not  yet  quite  realise 
who  she  is. 
Yzdra.  I  wonder  why 

This  boy  seems  so  afraid  of  me.     Poor 

thing! 
The  Princess  I;  I  would  not  hurt  thee. 
Come. 

[He  looks  around  as  though  wanting 

to  run,  and  cowers  hack  against  the 

tree. 

Jester.    The  Princess!  Off!  Stand  off! 

Yzdra.  Poor  boy!  Poor  boy! 


sc.  II  yzDi^A  43 

[As  she  moves  still  nearer  to  him,  he 
seizes  a  stone  as  if  to  throw  it  at  her. 
In  truth  I  would  not  hurt  thee.     See  how 

kind 
I  am.    Thou  seemest  like  a  little  child 
Whom  I  could  hold  beside  me;  almost  kiss 
In  pity. 

[He  starts  to  throw  the  stone;  but  seeing 
her  step  up  to  him,  evidently  un- 
afraidy  he  hesitates. 
Why,  what  ails  thee  now?  But  see 
How  kind  the  hand  that  rests  upon  thy 
head. 
Jester.     O  gods!  The  poisoned   kiss! 
The  poisoned  kiss! 
I  would  not  die.     'Twas  not  for  me  they 

reared 
You  thus.    Oh,  touch  me  not! 

[He   cowers   down   at   her   feet,  tr  She 
places  her  hand  gently  on  his  head. 


44  YZDRA  ACT  I 

The  kiss!  and  death! 
{He  jails  on  the  ground^  sobbing  con- 
vulsively. 
YzDRA.    The  kiss  and  death?    The  poi- 
soned kiss?    'Twas  not 
For  me  they  reared  you  thus?    Oh,  touch 

me  not? 
The  kiss  and  death?    The  poisoned  kiss? 

What  can 
He  mean?    Poor  boy,  his  wits  are  all  dis- 
traught. 

[Moving  from  hiniy  then^  after  a  pause^ 
looking  around  at  him. 
Poor  boy!    [She  stands  musing.] 
The  poisoned  kiss.    The  kiss  and  death. 
[She  shakes  her  head;  and  then,  suddenly 
beginning  to  understand,  a  look  of 
agony  comes  into  her  face. 
The  child  I  kissed  that  died!    My  forest 
life! 


sc.  II  YZDRA  45 

The  nurse  that  shrinks  away!     [Wildly.] 

It  cannot  be. 
[She    staggers    and    supports    herself 
against  the  tree. 
Why  lead  me  out  and  show  me  aught  of 

life, 
If  life  is  not  forme? 

[Thinking.]    The  poisoned  kiss. 
And  death.  He  said  what  else?  I  must 

remember. 
He  said  'twas  not  for  him.     What  then? 
For  whom? 

[Suddenly  understanding  it  all.] 
For  Alexander  death!  And  what  for  me? 
I  must  learn  more. 

[As  she  staggers  toward  the  Jester,    the 

Brahman  enters. 

Thou  crawling  snake!    Thou  mock 

Of  holiness !    What  good  to  thee  shall  come 

From  Alexander's  death?  my  poisoned  life? 


46  YZDRA  ACT  I 

Brahman.     What  meaneth  this? 
YzDRA.     [Trying  to  control  herself.]    He 
told — he  told  me  all. 
[The  Brahman  makes  a  sudden  move- 
•  ment  toward  the  Jester,  and  then, 
changing  his  mind,  steps  to  the  door 
and  motions  an  attendant.     He  whis- 
pers to  him  and  then  the   attendant 
leads  out  the  Jester. 
Brahman.    [Half  to  himself  .1   No  prattle 

more  from  him. 
YzDRA.  Thou  takest  life — 

A  human  life  against  the  Holy  Law? 

Brahman.    The  Law  must  bend  before 

necessity. 
YzDRA.     [Seizing  the  spear  and  stepping 
towards  him.] 
Then  I  take  thine,  thou  jackal  masked  as 

man, 
Thou  grey  hyena  tricked  in  holy  weeds ; 


sc.  II  YZDRA  47 

The  blood  of  all  the  princes  of  my  race 
Comes  battling  upward  roimd  about  my 

heart; 
Unsexed,  I  stand  a  hero  of  my  house, 
And  claim  the  vengeance  due,  a  coward  *s 
death. 

[She  steps  forward  to  strike  him;  hut 

he  gazes  at  her  unflinchingly  and 

raises  his  hand,  exercising  his  old 

authority  over  her. 

Brahman.    Turn  not  on  me,  my  child, 

but  pause  and  think. 
YzDRA.  [Wildly.]  But  pause  and  think ! 
[Cowed   by  his   power   over   her  and 
speaking  very  low. 

Oh  God!  I  hate  you  so! 
[Aloud  again.] 
'Tis  time  to  strike,  not  think;  to  strike 

with  hate. 
To  trample  out  your  life  or  spurn  you  hence. 


48  YZDRA 


ACT  I 


Brahman.    You  go  to  Alexander;  should 

he  die 
His  queen  would  hold  dominion  o'er  the 

world. 
YzDRA.    O  base,  base,  base  as  demons 

scorned  by  Brahm! 
I  would  not  stoop  to  this — a  coward's  deed. 

\Ske  commences  to  break  down  under 
the  strain. 
But  tell  me  why  my  life  is  poisoned  thus. 
Brahman.     Yzdra,  you  have  but  me  to 

trust ;  no  more 
A  child,  but  woman  fully  grown,  I  trust 
Your  womanhood,  your  blood,  and  tell  you 

all. 
Before  your  birth  the  gods  decreed  that  you 
Should  live  on  poisons,  gain  this  poisonous 

power, 
But  kept  their  reasons  hid  until  but  now, 
When  oracles  revealed  the  State  must  fall. 


sc.  II  YZDRA  49 

The  King,  your  father,  lose  his  rule,  his 

life. 
Unless  the  Grecian  army's  march  were 

stopped 
By  death  to  Alexander  brought  by  you. 
YzDRA.     But  what  of  me,  who  had  my 

life  to  live — 
My  happy  human  life,  my  hope  of  love. 
That  you  have  baffled  darkly  from  my 

birth? 
I  stand  here  impotent  and  gaze  at  life, 
A  nameless  horror,  loathM  by  the  world. 
Give  back  the  life  you  took  away  from 

me! 
Brahman.     Not  loathM  by  the  world 

but  named  of  men 
In  bright  emblazonry  on  honour's  scroll, 
As  she  who  saved  her  coimtry,  saved  her 

sire, 
A  maiden  hero  worthy  of  her  race. 


50  YZDRA  ACT  I 

YzDRA.     What  owe  I  to  a  sire  I  never 
saw — 
A  sire  who  leagued  with  thee  to  break  my 
life? 
Brahman.    The  gods  have  willed;  the 

gods  must  be  obeyed. 
YzDRA.     I  will  not  do  it ;  could  not  stoop 

so  low. 
Brahman.     [Rising  to  his  full  dignity 
and  threatening  her. 
The  mandates  of  the  gods  must  be  obeyed ; 
If  not,  upon  your  soul  the  consequence. 
YzDRA.     It  cannot  be! 
Brahman.        Have  you  forgot  so  soon 
The  hour  I  told  you  of  your  father's  will  ? 
YzDRA.    Oh,  God!    So  sweet  it  was! 
Brahman.  You  told  me  then 

You  longed  to  do  some  service  for  the  State ; 
To  do  some  mighty  thing,  some  valiant 
deed ; 


sc.  II  YZDRA  51 

And  now  you  falter  when  the  chance  is 
come. 

YzDRA.     It  was  my  dream  of  girlhood. 
Brahman.  Poros  asks 

His  daughter  to  be  worthy  of  her  sire — 

To  give  herself,  as  many  men  have  given 

Themselves,  to  save  your  land  and  ancient 
race. 
YzDRA.     I  am  a  princess  worthy  of  my 
line; 

I  would  obey  my  sire,  obey  the  gods, 

Would  serve  the  State  and  be  a  queen  in  all ; 

But  not  through  baseness. 
Brahman.  This  could  not  be 

base: 

This  deed  the  gods  command  will  men 
revere 

Until  they  set  you  with  the  gods  them- 
selves. 

And  build  a  shrine,  and  come  in  pilgrimage 


52  YZDJiA  ACT  I 

To  pray  your  aid  whene'er  your  country 

needs. 
Your  speech  is  royal  but  you  act  the  slave. 
YzDRA.     I  could  not  do  it. 
Brahman.  Yet  you  could  not  live 

The  life  you  dreamed,  whichever  course 
you  chose. 

[The  expression  of  hate  comes  back 
into  her  face.  She  steps  forward 
grasping  the  spear  tightly,  and  is 
about  to  strike,  but  pauses,  again 
overawed  by  the  old  authority. 
In  one  your  name  will  be  forever  praised, 
As  she  who  loved  her  country,  served  her 

gods; 
The  other  course,  if  taken,  brands  your 

name 
As  one  who,  disobeying  king  and  gods 
Through  woman's  weakness,  fell  as  falls 
a  tree 


sc.  II  YZDRA  53 

By  lightning  shattered.     Not  alone  this 

life 
You  lose ;  through  bleak  eternities  of  lives 
The  gods  will  hunt  you,  flying  from  their 

wrath — 
A  horror  to  yourself,  a  name  of  scorn. 
YzDRA.     It  cannot  be!  It  cannot,  cannot 

be! 
I  could  have  been  so  happy  living  life, 
A  woman  merely,  in  some  humble  lot ; 
A  wife  and  mother,  feeling  tiny  hands 
Reached  out  for  my  protecting  mother  love ; 
Or  just  a  careless  girl  as  once  I  was 
Among  my  jasmine  bowers,  with  dreams 

for  life. 
So  little  would  have  made  me  happy ;  now — 
Brahman.    Aye,  now  you  choose  the 

brand  of  infamy. 
Or  glory  ever  brightening,  simg  of  men, 
A  name  for  poets'  hearts  to  conjure  with. 


54  YZDRA 


ACT  I 


YzDRA.     I  could  have  been  so  happy, 

would  have  asked 

So  little.     Oh,  to  sink  at  once  in  Brahm, 

Forgetting  all  the  pain,  the  broken  hope! 

And  yet   I  would   find'  vengeance   ere   I 

die! 

Brahman.    Accept  the  way  of  duty 

marked  divine. 
YzDRA.     It  may  be  I  shall  try.     Now 
leave  me  here 
Alone,  yea,  all  alone.     I  cannot  stand 
It  more.     In  pity  for  my  weakness  go. 
It  may  be  I  shall  do  it.    Go. 

Brahman.  I  go, 

But  charge  you  on  your  conscience,  for 

your  weal, 
To  do  the  gods'  high  will,  and  save  the 
State. 

[She  sinks  down  hiding  her  face, 
YzDRA.     Go!    But  go! 


sc.  II  YZDRA  55 

Brahman  The  gods  decree 

that  you 
Shall  save  your  people  and  your  father. 

Now 
I  go.     A  little  later  you  yourself 
Will  see  where  honour  points.    Till  then 
farewell. 
YzDRA.     \Rising\    I  shall  do  what   I 
will;  my  life  is  mine — 
My  little  left  of  life — ^nor  owe  I  aught 
To  coimtry  or  to  kin,  to  you  or  him, 
But    vengeance,    vengeance,    vengeance! 
Now  begone. 
Brahman.    Consent  imto  our  plan  or 

die  to-night. 
YzDRA .     Or  die  to-night ! 
Brahman.    Aye,  such   is   Poros*   will. 
You  know  the  choice.     Farewell, 

YzDRA.  Or  death  to-night ! 

End  of  Act  I. 


ACT  II 


ACT  II. 
Alexander's  quarters  at  the  court  op 

TAXILES. 

A  pavilion  tent.  A  practicable  door  on 
either  side  of  the  hack,  one  leading  to  an 
inner  pavilion  and  the  other  to  the  camp. 
Between  them  is  a  couch  with  steps  lead- 
ing up  to  it,  and  a  low  altar  at  one  side, 
Alexander,  HEPHiESTioN  and  a  Page 
discovered.  Alexander  reclines  on  the 
couch.     The  Page  sings: 

Is  this  but  dream! 

So  close  I  seem 

To  hold 

The  lips,  the  breast 

My  passion  pressed 

Of  old. 

59 


6o  YZDRA  ACT  II 

Again  one  kiss! — 
The  moment's  bliss 

Is  fled, 
Like  joy  that  flies 
Ere  yet  surprise 
Be  dead. 
Alexander.     What,   longing   still    for 
Macedon,  my  Page! 
Are  not  these  Indian  maidens  fair  enough? 
\To  Heph^estion. 
Perchance  some  languorous  Persian  charms 

his  thoughts 
To  swift  Pinarus'  stream  where  Persia  fell: 
The  captive  maids  were  fair. 

Heph^stion.  Indeed,  my  Lord, 

We  lost  as  many  captives  as  we  took; 
But  we  to  women  yielded,  they  to  men ; 
Full  half  our  army  wear  the  Persian  yoke. 
Alexander.     It  is  my  plan  to  fuse  at 
length  in  one 


ACT  II  YZDRA  6 1 

The  many  nations  bowed  beneath  my  rule ; 
And  intermarriage  builds  foimdations  firm 
For  future  empire. 

HEPH.ESTI0N.     Greece  has  owned  your 

sway; 
Athens  and  Sparta  dread  your   god-sent 

power; 
Cilicia,  Egypt,  Lydia,  Scythia,  Crete, 
Are  yours ;  the  Medes  and  Persians  call  you 

Lord, 
O  son  of  Zeus!  Great  Asia's  Emperor! 
Alexander,     Not  yet  is  all  of  Asia  in 

our  hand. 
Nor  can  it  be  imtil  this  Poros  bends 
His  stubborn  pride  to  sue  our  clemency 
For  life  and  realm;  on  him  we  march,  and 

when 
His  head  shall  bow,  a  reed  before  the  wind 
Of  our  swift  onslaught,  when  his  armies  fly 
Like  scattered  sand  before  Sirocco's  blast, 


62  YZDRA  ACT  II 

Then  mayst  thou  call  me  **King**;   for 

none  but  he 
Is  strong  to  stop  our  progress  for  a  day. 
Heph^stion.    To  Taxiles,  our  host,  this 
day  has  come 
A  further  reinforcement  for  our  aid. 
Alexander.     His  friendship  cheers  the 

troops. 
Heph^stion.     Would  Poros  now       ' 
Alliance  make,  as  Taxiles  has  done, 
It  would  be  well. 
Alexander.        How  seem  the  men  to- 
day? 
Heph^stion.      They  talk  no  more  of 
home  and  child  and  wife, 
But  each  of  valour  brags  to  new-foimd 

friends, 
And  all  seem  well  disposed  for  further  wars. 
Alexander.     'Tis  well!      Ourself  will 
pass  again  from  tent 


ACT  II  YZDRA  63 

To  tent,  and  cheer  their  reborn  courage  on 
With  speech  of  ancient  sieges  and  the 

spoils ; 
Of  honour  won  and  honoiir  yet  to  gain. 
How  like  you  India? 

Heph^stion.     Well,  indeed^  my  Liege; 
The  Indian  men  are  brave,  the  women  fair ; 
The  land  itself  is  rich  in  things  of  worth. 
Could  Aristotle,  though  he  taught  your 

youth, 
Surpass  these  Brahman  sages? 

Alexander.  Much  I  doubt. 

Who  comes? 
Heph^stion.       The    motley    minded 
Proteas. 

[Enter  Proteas  with  an  air  of  great 
importance.  He  is  dressed  in  the 
Persian  fashion^  and  prostrates  him- 
self before  Alexander  in  the  man- 
ner  of  the  Persians, 


64  YZDRA  ACT  II 

Alexander.  He  is  as  blown  up  with 
his  tidings  as  is  a  horse  with  the  wind 
coHc;  yet  would  it  be  safe  to  gage  a 
province  that  the  matter  of  his  tid- 
ings is  of  no  more  weight  than  air. 

Heph^stion.  My  Liege,  if  the  message 
seem  to  him  of  so  much  importance, 
its  burden  must  be  chiefly  of  himself. 
Perhaps  he  is  in  need  of  money. 

Alexander.     Now  Zeus  forbid! 

Heph^stion.  It  is  the  way  of  men 
of  little  worth  to  give  themselves  airs 
of  importance,  to  swell  and  to  strut, 
whenever  anything,  however  trivial, 
gets  into  the  hollowness  of  their  skulls. 

Alexander.  One  would  think  he  came 
with  India  in  his  right  hand,  Mount 
Olympus  in  his  left,  and  a  half  dozen 
provinces  tucked  under  his  arms  that 
he  might  offer  me  a  small  token  of  his 


ACT  II  YZDRA  65 

esteem.  Well,  let  us  hear.  Speak  up, 
most  worthy  Proteas,  and  tell  us  what 
god  fills  thy  sails  with  the  breath  of 
his  inspiration. 

Proteas.  Would  the  son  of  Ammon, 
the  friend  of  Ares,  the  Emperor  of  the 
world,  most  valiant  and  most  mighty, 
deign  in  the  magnificent  lavishness  of 
his  kindness  to  hear  tidings  from  me 
who,  merely  man,  prostrate  myself 
dumb  before  his  divinity? 

Alexander.  Now  may  Hermes  aid 
thee!     Speak  on. 

PoRTEAS.  My  Liege,  there  waits  with- 
out an  embassy. 

Alexander.  I  pray  Zeus,  the  protec- 
tor of  strangers,  to  forgive  thee  their 
waiting.  What  is  the  appearance  of 
this  embassy,  and  from  whom  comes 
it? 


66  YZDXA  ACT  II 

Proteas.  It  is,  my  Lord,  an  embassy 
of  most  magnificent  appearance;  the 
very  elephants  are  adorned  like  our 
Grecian  hetaerae:  from  mere  home- 
sickness I  did  almost  love  them.  The 
leader  is  a  man  of  most  admired 
comeliness,  and  beside  him  ride  a 
maiden  veiled  and  a  Brahman  who 
seems  old  enough  to  be  great-uncle 
to  Kronos. 

Alexander.  But  didst  thou  not  learn 
from  whence  they  come? 

Proteas.    From  one  who  calls  himself 

an  emperor — Poros  by  name. 

[The  manner  of   Alexander   suddenly 

changes,    taking   on   the   force   and 

swiftness  of  a  man  of  action  and  the 

dignity  of  an  emperor. 

Alexander.  [To  Heph^stion.]  Bring 
in  the  embassy;  we  meet  them  here. 


ACT  II  YZDRA  67 

At  once. 

Heph^stion.     [Moving  toward  the  door.] 
The  gods  obey  your  will,  my  Liege. 
[Enter  the  Rajah,  the  Brahman,  etc. 
While  they  make  their  obeisance,  others 
spread  costly   gifts   at    the   feet    of 
Alexander. 
Alexander.    Accept  our  kingly  wel- 
come for  yourselves 
And  him  who  sends  you.     For  his  gifts  so 

rich. 
And  something  strange  imto  our  Grecian 

eyes. 
We  give  their  certain  due,  an  Emperor's 

thanks. 
In    this    with    Poros    we    ourself    will 

vie, 
Returning  friendship  with  mimificence. 
Rajah.    To  your  dread  feet,  great  Em- 
peror, we  come 


68  YZDRA  ACT  II 

From  Poros,  who  has  filled  our  mouths 

with  words 
Of    friendly    greeting.      These    imworthy 

gifts 
Are  but  the  shadow  of  his  good  intent. 
Alexander.     What  will  has  Poros  other 

than  to  give? 
Rajah.  The  honour  of  alliance.  Further- 
more, 
He  offers  aid,  should  you  such  aid  desire, 
In    following    ever    eastward    conquest's 

path; 
Safe  conduct  for  your  troops  across  his 

realm ; 
And  you  yourself  he  fain  would  make  his 
guest. 
Alexander.     This  offer,  frankly  made, 
we  would  accept 
With  equal  frankness. 

Rajah.  One  thing  more,  my  Liege : 


ACT  II  YZDRA  69 

The  King,  with  faith  in  your  acceptance, 

charged 
This  Brahman,  who  is    chief   of   all  the 

realm 
In  wisdom  and  philosophy,  with  words 
More  fit  for  him  to  utter  than  for  me. 
Alexander.     Philosophers    and    poets 
we  have  held 
More  worthy  homage  than  are  sceptred 

kings. 
The  diadem  of  thought  upon  his  brow 
Compels  our  reverence. 

Be  welcome  here. 
[The  Brahman  motions  an  attendant ^ 
who  goes  to  the  door  and  ushers  in 
YzDRA,  veiled,  and  her  maidens; 
then  the  Brahman  walks  slowly  over 
to  YzDRA  and  lifts  the  veil.  Alex- 
ander starts  in  surprise  and  glances 
at  HEPH.ESTION,  who  looks  at  him. 


yo  YZDRA  ACT  II 

Alexander.     [Aside  to   Heph^stion.] 
Think  you,  could  Phryne's  self  have  been 
more  fair? 
Heph^stion.      Not    Phryne,    nor    the 

wave-bom  Cyprian. 
Brahman.     O   son   of  Ammon,    Poros 
purposing 
To  bind  himself  to  you,  yourself  to  him, 
In  bonds  more  lasting  than  a  kingdom's 

troth, 
Has  bade  me  offer  you  for  queen  and  wife 
His  only  daughter,  whom  he  loves  right 

well — 
The  Princess  Yzdra.     He — 

[During  this  speech  Alexander  has 
shown  increasing  emotiony  and  now, 
without  waiting  for  the  Brahman  to 
finishyhe  interrupts,  speaking  rapidly. 
Yzdra  has  been  looking  toward  the 
ground,  hut  with  the  first  lines  of  the 


ACT  II  YZDRA  yi 

following  speech  she  looks  up  at  him 
in  surprise  and  from  here  on  shows 
an  ever  increasing  interest  in  him. 
At  the  close  of  the  scene  her  voice  and 
her  manner  indicate  that  she  is  deeply 
touched  by  his  courtesy. 
Alexander.  A  woman's  heart 

Is  gift  more  precious  than  a  king  can  give. 
It  has  not  been  my  custom  to  extend 
My  conquests  thus,  or  take  unto  myself 
The  maids  that  came  within  my  power. 

The  wife 
And  daughter  of  Darius  both  received 
Full  grace.     And  yet,  because  she  is  so  fair. 
And  somewhat  also  for  the  kingdom's  weal, 
I  would   be   glad   of   this; — if  she   were 

glad, 
And   came  without   enforcement,   giving 

love. 
What  says  the  maiden? 


72  YZDRA  ACT  II 

Brahman.  Sire,  a  name  like  yours 

Wakes  love  in  women's  hearts. 

Alexander.  But  what  says  she? 

YzDRA.     My  father  wills:  I  lie  within 

your  hand; 

And  yet  an  Indian  Princess  yields  not  thus 

Her  quick  consent.     The  daughters  of  my 

house 
Have  pride  of  lineage  and  strength  of  will ; 
We  choose  from  those  who  prove  them- 
selves for  us. 
Alexander.     So  proud  and  fair;  you 
seem  a  queen  in  all. 
And  yet  you  come  not  quite  unwillingly 
To  crown  your  beauty  with  my  name  and 
realm  ? 
YzDRA.     Your  Grecian  Cupid  shoots  one 
single  shaft, 
And  Grecian  bosoms  yield  them  to  the 
wound : 


ACT  II  YZDRA  73 

The  Indian  god  of  love  has  arrows  five 
With  flowers  barbed,  and  with  each  flying 

shaft 
He  seeks  a  separate  sense.    When  all  have 

flown, 
And  love  gains  access  through  the  several 

wounds. 
Then  only,  Indian  women  yield  their  hearts. 
Alexander.     I  trust  not  to  my  armies 

or  my  state, 
My  kingly  order  or  divine  descent, 
To  storm  this  citadel  of  love,  but  trust 
My  manhood  simply,  and  the  strength  I 

own. 
Hephaestion,  see  our  guests  are  well  be- 
stowed. 
Heph^stion.     I  will,  my  Lord. 
Alexander.     [To    the   Rajah.]     This 

afternoon  we  hold 
Some  further  conference,  and  then  will  ask 


74  YZDRA  ACT  u 

More  fully  of  your  country  and  your  king, 
Of  whom  the  voice  of  rumour  speaks  afar. 
\To  YzDRA.]    Of  you,  my  Queen,  I  beg  the 

courtesy 
Of  taking  these,  my  quarters,  for  your  use. 

YzDRA.     I  would  not  dispossess  you. 

Alexander.  Soldiers  find 

Their  home,  their  comfort,  anywhere. 

YzDRA.  I  thank 

You,  King,  for  this — 
[Speaking  very  low!]  and  all  your  courtesy. 

Alexander.     Ere    Phoebus    stays    his 
golden  chariot  wheels 
I  come  to  you  and  crave  an  audience, 
But  first  must  make  inspection  of  the  host. 
Perchance,  my  Princess,  you  would  care  to 

come 
And  smile  upon  the  troops? 

YzDRA.  Indeed,  my  Lord. 

{Exeunt. 


ACT  II  YZDRA  75 

\T\ie  stage  is  darkened  for  a  moment  to 

give  the  lapse  of  time. 
Enter  the  Brahman  and  the  Rajah. 
Brahman.    They  have  not  yet  returned . 
Rajah.  It  makes  me  laugh 

To  think  of  viewing  thus  the  host  which 

soon — 
Its  leader  dead — ^will  pass  like  summer 
•    snow. 

Brahman.     Not  gently  will  it  pass;  for 
when  the  troops 
Are  left  without  their  king,  each  petty  chief 
Will  seek  supreme  command ;  and  Grecian 

blood, 
By  Grecian  swords  set  free,  will  flow  un- 
stanched. 
R  A  J  ah  .     Then  Taxiles  will  turn  upon  his 
guests. 
And  each  will  murder  each  while  we  look  on 
And  laugh,  content. 


^6  YZDRA  ACT  II 

B  RAHMAN .  From  far  will  we  look  on ! 
Once  Alexander  dead,  our  gracious  host — 
''Friend  Taxiles" — from  forcM  friendship 

lapsed 
Would  wreak  his  will. 

Rajah.  'Twere  well  indeed  to  fly 

And  make  what  speed  we  can  before  the 

youth 
Has  quaffed  the  deadly  sweetness  of  her 

lips ; 
For  should  suspicion  pass  but  near  our 

names, 
An  instant  death  would  follow. 

Brahman.  When  he  dies 

His  army,  mad  with  grief,  will  spend  its 

hate 
On    Taxiles,    and    thus    we    catch     two 

birds 
Who  took  themselves  for  eagles,  with  one 

snare. 


ACT  II  YZDRA  77 

The  girl  played  well  her  part,  and  drew 

him  on 
With  beauty's  swift  allurement. 

Rajah.  She,  I  thought, 

Seemed   not    averse    to    answering     his 

love 
With  love  returned ;  for  just  ere  they  went 

out 
A  strange  new  light  came  gleaming  in  her 

eyes, 
New  accents  timed  her  voice  and  made  it 

sweet. 
Did  you  observe  the  change? 

Brahman.  I  also  saw: 

But  should  she  love,  it  could  not  hurt  our 

plan. 
Rajah.    Nay,  rather  would  it  help  us; 

for  her  heart 
Would   join   her  mind,   and   both,   with 

doubled  power, 


^S  YZDRA  ACT  II 

And  purpose  doubly  strong,  would  strive  to 

wake 
In  him  the  passion  that  fulfils  our  aim. 
Brahman.     Aye,  loving,  she  will  seek 
with  stronger  will 
To  win  him  to  her  arms;  but,  loving  not. 
Her  mind  at  last  is  set  to  do  the  deed. 
Rajah.     In   either  case   we   gain   our 

purpose. 
Brahman.    Yea. 
\Tke  Rajah  walks  to  the  door  and  looks 

out. 
Rajah.     They  are  not  coming  yet.     I 
would  we  knew 
If  love  so  long  delays  them  on  their  way. 
Brahman.     When  love  points  out  the 
path,  the  way  grows  long 
In  time,  but  short  to  sense. 

Rajah.  'Twere  well  to  know. 

Enter  Heph^stion. 


ACT  II  YZDRA  79 

Rajah.     We  wait  the  coming  of  the 

King,  my  Lord. 
Heph^stion.     I  also  seek  the  King. 
Brahman.  They  tarry  long. 

Heph^estion.      But  now  I  crossed  a 

comer  of  the  camp, 
And  all  men  spoke  to  me  with  one  glad 

voice 
Of  how  our  Emperor  and  your  fair  Queen 
Had  gleamed  an  instant  there  on  all  men's 

sight. 
It  seems  the  King  proclaimed  a  feast  to- 
night 
In  honor  of  your  embassy,  and  told 
How  not  with  pain  across  your  stainM 

spears 
Would  we  your  kingdom  enter,  but  as 

guests, 
With  garlands  decked  and  feasting  by  the 

way; 


So  YZDRA  ACT  II 

And  when  he  showed  in  sign  of  peace  and 

truth — 
More  sweet  than  peace  herself — ^the  match- 
less maid, 
A  murmur  spread  among  the  host  that  soon 
To  general  tumult  rose  in  glad  acclaim; 
But  they  rode  on  and  sought  each  other's 
eyes. 
Brahman.     Perchance  they  cannot  pass 

athwart  the  crowd. 
Heph^stion.        The    soldiers     throng 
about  them  praising  both. 
[A  sound  of  shouting  is  heard  in  the 
distance.      Heph^stion  goes  to  the 
door  and  looks  out. 
They  come  with  half  the  army  following. 
\The  sound  of  cheering  gradually  he- 
comes  more  distinct;  then  enter  Alex- 
ander and  YzDRA,  the  latter  flushed 
with  excitement.     The  soldiers  shout 


Acrn  YZDRA  8 1 

again  and  Yzdra  goes  to  the  door 
while  Alexander  stands  behind  her 
looking  at   them.     As  she  turns  to 
come  hack  toward  the  centre,  she  sees 
the  Brahman  watching  her,  shudders, 
losing  in  a  moment  her  joyousness; 
then  tries  to  regain  her  composure, 
Alexander   greets   the   three   men 
hut  is  all  the  while  watching  Yzdra. 
He  steps  over  to  her  as  she  stands 
glancing  at  the  Brahman  and  en- 
deavouring to  regain  control  of  herself, 
Alexander.    The   audience   I   craved 
this  afternoon 
Must  now  be  held,  so  many  silken  hotirs 
Have  slipped  unfelt  between  our  wayward 
fingers. 

[Yzdra  stands  motionless.     He  glances 

at  the  three  m£n  who  how  and  go  out. 

Queen,  I  claim  the  greeting  promised  by 


82  YZDRA  ACT  II 

Those  wondrous  eastern  eyes  that  channed 

my  sense. 
You  will  not  give  me  welcome? 
YzDRA.  Welcome,  King. 

[Suddenly  and  rapidly. 
You  must  forgive  me  that  I  am  overcome ; 
The  sudden  view  of  greatness  opening  out 
Has  filled  mine  eyes  with  mist,  my  mind 

with  cloud ; 
And  something  too  of  girlhood's  diffidence 
Oppresses  me.     I  am  not  very  old, 
Have  not  seen  much  of  life  and  mighty 
kings. 
Alexander.    And  yet  you  come  not 

quite  unwillingly? 
YzDRA.     I  hardly  know  as  yet.    Oh, 

give  me  time! 
Alexander.     Nay,  time  for  what,  my 

Queen? 
YzDRA.     In  girlhood  oft 


ACT  II  YZDRA  83 

I  dreamed  as  maidens  do  of  future  love, 
Of  how  a  king  would  come  and  win  my 

heart 
By  valour,  courtesy,  and  kingly  mien; 
A  mighty  king  he  was,  a  noble  man. 

Alexander.    A  mighty  king  am  I,  per- 
chance a  man 
Not  all  unworthy  of  a  maiden's  dream; 
But  now  your  beauty  bows  me,  king  and 

man, 
To  seek  your  throne  of  womanhood,  and 

sue — 
A  captive,   prostrate  there,  for  life  and 

love. 
YzDRA.    For  life  and  love! 

^Aside,^     It  cannot,  cannot  be! 
\_Aloud\    My  life  and   love  were   yours 

before  I  knew 
Your  name;  before  I  fotmd  you  aught  but 

dream ; 


84  YZDRA 


ACT  II 


But  now — oh,  give  me  time!  a  little  time 
Before  I  wake.    The  dream  must  fade  so 

soon. 
Oh,  give  me  time!    {A^ier  a  pause. ^ 

I  cannot  dream  again. 
Alexander.    Reality  is  fairer  than  your 

dream. 
YzDRA.    Reality! 

Alexander.  Is  here,  my  Queen,  my 
child. 
I  would  not  push  you  forward  to  the  leap, 
Yet  passion,  rising  in  me,  stronger  grows. 
And  momently  increasing  makes  my  heart 
Forget  its  calculating  thought  to  build 
A    future   empire's   strength   from   your 

consent.' 
My  manhood  speaks  to  you  with  waking 
love ; — 

[YzDRA  steps  forward  impulsively. 
You  love  me  then  I     Confess ! 


ACT  II  YZDRA  85 

\The  expression  of  pain  comes  into  her 
face  again.     She  turns  away. 
YzDRA.  It  cannot  be. 

Alexander.     What  cannot  be? 
YzDRA.  You  do  not  understand. 

Alexander.     Love   makes   swift   con- 
quest of  a  soldier's  heart. 
It  eats  like  poison  through  me,  blood  and 
bone. 

[The  shouting  is  heard  again  outside. 

Alexander    hesitates    a    moment, 

looks  at  YzDRA,  and  then  goes  to  the 

door. 

YzDRA.     [Aside. 1     Like  poison!     Aye! 

more  deadly  swift  in  me, 

It    shatters    like    the    lightning,    leaving 

naught. 
[Ahud.l    You  do  not  understand.    It  can- 
not be. 
Enter  the  Brahman  unseen  by  Alex- 


86  YZDRA  ACT  II 

ANDER.     He  stands  looking  at  Yzdra 
and  raises  his  hand  in  command, 
fascinating  her  with  his  gaze.    Alex- 
ander motions  the  troops  to  be  silent. 
Alexander.     Beside  the  feast  to-night 
we  now  proclaim 
That    games    be   held  in  honour  of  the 

Queen, 
And  many  prizes,  gold  and  things  of  worth 
Ourselves  will  give  to  those  who  most 

deserve. 
[The  soldiers  cheer  again.     Exit  Brahman. 
But  now  let  all  disperse  and  rest  awhile. 
[Another   cheer.     He  stands  watching 
them  as  they  go. 
The  soldiers  hail  you  as  their  queen  and 

mine, 
So  yield  you  must ;  I  never  fail  in  aught. 
[Yzdra  stands   motionless,   gazing 
straight  ahead  of  her.     She  speaks 


ACT  II  YZDjRA  87 

mechanically  without  cadence  in  her 
voice. 
YzDRA.     It  may  be  I  shall  do  it. 
Alexander.  Trust  me  now. 

[YzDRA  speaks  still  mechanically  as 
though  forcing  herself  to  speaks  hut 
there  is  some  slight  modulation  in 
her  voice f  which  trembles  a  little, 
YzDRA.    Ah,  King,  I  trust  your  love; 
I  fain  would  yield ; 
My  every  dream  of  girlhood  changed  to  life 
Before  me  stands.      A  king  you  are,  a 

man 
Of  valour,  courtesy  and  kingly  mien 
Beyond  my  thought. 
Alexander.  And  yet  you  love  me 

not? 

[She  turns  toward  him  and  speaks 
wildly^  putting  all  her  emotion  into 
her  voice,  and  desiring  him  to  under- 


88  YZDRA  ACT  11 

stavid  her,  though  realising  that  he 
cannot  do  so. 
YzDRA.     I  love,  yea  love  too  much;  *t  is 
love  that  brings 
Refusal  to  my  lips.     One  last  ideal 
I  clutch  with  straining  hands.     It  cannot 

be. 
I  love  you,  love  you,  yet  it  cannot  be. 
Alexander,     Nay,  then  it  shall  be! 
[He  steps  forward  toward  her  quickly^ 
throws  his  arms  about  her  and  stoops 
to  kiss  her.    She  pushes  him  hack 
violently  and  speaks  very  wildly. 
YzDRA.     Death !    Your  death  and  mine ! 
Alexander.    What  mean  you? 

Enter  the  Brahman  behind  Alexan- 
der. They  do  not  see  him. 
YzDRA.     Death.     Your  death  and  mine. 
It  is  too  much.     Oh  gods,  that  this  should 
be! 


ACT  II  YZDRA  89 

Alexander.     What  mean  you? 

[YzDRA  sees  the  Brahman  and  staggers 

toward  Alexander,  falling  to  her 

knees  beside  him  and  reaching  up  for 

his  hand. 

YzDRA.    [To  the  Brahman]    Go!  In  pity 

go! 

[Alexander  draws  away  his  hand  and 

leaves  her  without  support]  she  falls 

to  the  floor. 

Oh  gods! 

[Alexander  has  followed  the  direction 

of  Yzdra's  look  and  now  sees  the 

Brahman,  on  whom  he  turns  fiercely. 

Alexander.    What  meaneth  this  ?    'Tis 

thou  who  must  explain. 
Brahman.    I  know  not  what  she  means, 
but  know  she  loves, 
And  think  the  maiden's  mind  must  be 
distraught 


90  YZDRA  ACT  II 

With  sudden  greatness  and  the  love  she 

owns, 
With  thought  of  you  and  your  divinity. 
Alexander.    The    truth!    Be    quick! 

The  truth! 
Brahman.    She  meaneth  naught. 
Poor  girl,  her  unused  wits  go  wandering 
Overcome  with  passion  and  her  sudden  joy  \ 
But  I,  who  have  some  skill  with  soothing 

herbs, 
Some  knowledge  of  the  mind,  will  soon 

restore 
Her  reason,  make  her  yield  such  proofs  of 

love 
As  oft  a  maid,  though  loving,  long  with- 
holds. 
Alexander.    But  now  she  spoke   of 

death — ^her  death  and  mine. 
B  RAHMAN.    Those  words  meant  naught ; 
she  will  unsay  them  soon. 


ACT  II  YZDRA  91 

YzDRA.     That   will   I   never   do.     The 
truth  is  mine 
And  honour,  though  I  die  in  saving  him. 
[She  rises  to  her  full  height  and  stands 
facing  the  Brahman,  her  eyes  flash- 
ings her  voice  under  control  and  her 
face  showing  perfect  determination. 
For  the  first  time^  she  has  more  force 
than  he  and  he  feels  that  he  has  lost 
his  power  over  her.     He  moves  in- 
voluntarily toward  the  door,  hut  she 
steps  in  front  of  him,  blocking  the 
way. 
He  who  has  played  so  ruthlessly  with  lives 
Now  shifts  to  save  his  own.     He  dreads 

the  change 
To  some  despisM  shape,  most  like  himself. 
Some  snake,  or  slinking  jackal;  yet  his 

death 
Could  not  requite  me  for  the  evil  done, 


92  YZDRA  ACT  n 

For  life  and  love,  for  hope  and  womanhood. 
Some  subtle  torture  of  the  frame  and  mind 
Is  best  for  thee.    [Turning  to  Alexander] 
My  Liege,  I  tell  you  all. 
[Alexander  5^^^5  toward  i/^^  Brahman. 
Alexander.     What  hast  thou  done? 
[The  Brahman  takes  a  dagger  from 
his  robes  and  strilzes  at  Alexander. 
Brahman.  I  shall  not  die  alone. 

[YzDRA  springs  forward  and  hits  aside 
the   Brahman's   arm.     The  dagger 
falls  and  Alexander  puts  his  foot  on 
it. 
YzDRA.     Nor  I. 

Alexander.    Attend  the  Princess.  Call 
the  guards. 

Enter  HEPHiESTiON  with  five  or  six 
soldiers  and  the  Page;  then  Yzdra*s 
women. 
Hephaestion,  guard  this  hoary  demon  well, 


ACT  11  YZDRA  95 

And  put  the  others  from  the  selfsame  brood 
In  chains.     Let  all  be  gagged. 

{To  the  guards,]      And  you,  my  friends. 
Talk  not  unto  the  troops. 

Heph^stion.  Your  will  is  law. 

[Heph^estion   and  the   soldiers    lead 
out  the  Brahman.     The  women  are 
helping  Yzdra  toward  the  other  door. 
The  Page  goes  with  the  soldiers. 
Alexander.     When  you  have  quite  re- 
gained your  strength  and  calm, 
I  come  to  learn  more  fully  of  these  things 
That  now  are  dark  to  me.     Whate'er  the 

truth 
'Tis  best  that  we  should  grace  the  games 

to-night 
From  joinM  thrones.     The  Brahman  will 

be  safe. 
The  secret  must  remain  between  ourselves, 
[Yzdra    goes    out    supported    by    the 


94  YZDRA  ACT  II 

women.  Two  of  the  soldiers  with  the 
Page  re-enter  and  stand  at  either 
side  of  the  door  by  which  they  came 
in.  Alexander,  noticing  them, 
stands  in  thought  for  a  moment 
and  then  takes  a  goblet  from  the  steps 
of  the  couch. 
[To  the  Page. 
Some  wine  I  pour  to  Ammon. 

[The  Page  fills  the  goblet  and  then  Alex- 
ander goes  up  the  steps  till  he  stands 
above  the  altar y  on  which  he  sprinkles 
a  little  wine. 

Father,  God, 
Be  now  thine   ear  attuned  to  hear  my 

prayer ; 
Let  now  thy  heart,  though  filled  with  bliss 

eteme, 
Remember    once    again      my     Mother's 
face. 


ACT  II  YZDRA  9S 

Where  white  she  lay  in  some  dim  woodland 

glade, 
And  felt  thy  godhead  stooping  through  the 

dusk 
To  crown  her  beauty.    Now  remember. 

King, 
Thy  joy,  her  sorrow,  and  the  child  she  bore, 
Who  here  with  suppliant  hands  about  thy 

knees 
Lays  claim  with  double  right  to  aid  divine. 
Oh,  Ammon,  God  and  Father,  hear  my 

prayer! 
Now  guide  and  guard  me; — 

[Re-enter  one  of  the  women. 

Speak! 

The  Woman.    The  Princess  comes. 

[Alexander  motions  the  soldiers  and 

Page    to    retire.    Re-enter    Yzdra. 

She  speaks  in  a  hard,  restrained  voice, 

Yzdra.     'Tis  I  who  come  to  you. 


96  YZDRA  ACT  II 

Alexander.  The  truth  at  once ! 

YzDRA.     I  must  disclose  a  deed  so  vile, 

so  base, 
That  demons  thinking  on   it  pale  with 

fear — 
A  shame  set  burning  on  the  front  of  Ind 
To  make  her  ways  a  by-word  to  the  world, 
And   leave   my   name   a  thing  obscene, 

abhorred, 
For  far,  revolving  years  to  shudder  at. 
Yea,  I  whom  but  a  moment  since  you  loved. 
And  in  a  little  moment  more  will  hate. 
When  once  you  know  my  vileness,  I  who 

speak, 
Who  loved  you.  King;  who  love  you,  love 

you  now. 
Prom  birth  was  dedicate  to  work  your 

death. 
By  means  most  base. 

Alexander.     Oh,  horror!  You  I  loved! 


ACT  II  YZDRA  97 

YzDRA.    Aye,  "loved.**     You  will  not 

love  me  any  more, 
But  soon  will  spurn  me  where  I  clasp  your 

feet. 
Myself,  myself  abhorring.     Hear  the  tale : 
The   Brahman   from  my  helpless  infant 

years 
Mixed    poison    with    my    food,   until   I 

grew, 
Not  knowing  this  myself,  a  poisoned  thing, 
That  starved  hyenas,  did  they  know,  would 

shim. 
You  have  the  truth. 

Alexander.    [Starting  back.]    No  harpy 

is  more  foul ! 
YzDRA.    The   gods    themselves    deter- 
mined this  should  be. 
And  spoke  through  him  in  trance  their 

oracles, 
Obeying  which,  he  made  me  what  I  am. 


98  YZDRA  ACT  ir 

Alexander.     I  hear  the  words  but  can- 
not take  the  sense : 
They  have  no  meaning. 

YzDRA.  Hear  me  now,  and  heed. 

My  kiss  is  poison  and  my  love  is  death. 
Alexander.     Your  love  is  death!    Tis 

false!    That  cannot  be! 
YzDRA.     No  serpent  is  more  deadly  than 
my  lips; 
He  gave  me  poison  till  my  life  was  charged 
With    horror,    nameless,    loathsome    and 

accursed ; 
Then  he  with  Poros  plotting,  sent  me  here 
To  work  your  death. 

Alexander.     But  you  have  saved  my 

life. 
YzDRA.     I  love  you.  King. 
Alexander.        I  cannot  think  'tis  true 
You  have  this  power. 

YzDRA.  I  killed  a  helpless  child.. 


ACT  11  YZDRA  99 

The  poison  takes  a  few  short  hours  to 
work. 
Alexander.    This  is  too  horrible. 
YzDRA.  And  yet,  'tis  true. 

Alexander.     The   horror   grapples 
strongly  with  my  love ; 
I  love  and  loathe.      Love's   wound  was 
swift  and  deep. 
YzDRA.    You  could  not  love  a  loath- 
some thing  like  me. 
Alexander.     You  saved  my  life.     We 
must  take  time  for  thought. 
Ere  night  I  will  inform  me  of  the  truth 
If  this  could  be.     It  passes  all  belief. 
YzDRA.    Too  true  it  is.     The  child   I 
kissed  was  killed; 
My  youth  was  passed  alone  with  one  old 

nurse, 
The    Brahman's    tool,    who    feared    my 
deadly  touch ; 


ICX)  YZDRA  ACT  II 

There  is  no  room  for  doubt,  the  Rajah 
knows. 
Alexander.     From  him  and  from  the 

Brahman  will  I  learn. 
YzDRA.     Think  not  too  hardly  of  me. 
Speak  some  word. 

[Alexander    starts    toward    her    im- 
pulsively and  then  draws  hack,  show- 
ing both  love  and  aversion. 
Alexander.     Love  lingers  yet,  I  can- 
not cast  it  out. 
YzDRA.    The    fault   was   theirs   alone, 
though  mine  the  doom. 
When  first  I  made  discovery  of  my  curse 
They  gave  me  choice  of  winning  you  or 

death — 
And  then  I  loved  you. 

Alexander.        Zeus !  My  love  is  strong ; 
My   horror  too.     I   must   take  time   for 
thought. 


ACTir  YZDRA  10 1 

Enter  the  Page  with  numerous  soldiers. 
Page.    The  soldiers  seek  your  orders 

for  the  games. 
Alexander.     I  go  with  you  at  once. 
And  you,  my  Queen, 
Farewell.     I  pray  you  grace  our  feast  to- 
night ; 
Perchance  ere  then  we  may  devise  some  plan , 
And  see  more  clearly  things  that  now  seem 

dark. 
I  humbly  take  my  leave. 
YzDRA.  Farewell,  my  Lord. 

[The  soldiers  cheer. 
Some.     Long  life! 

Others.    And  love  imto  the  King  and 
Queen ! 

[YzDRA  and  Alexander  look  at  each 
other  and  then  go  out  by  separate 
doors.  The  stage  is  darkened  for  a 
moment. 


102  YZDHA  ACT  II 

[When  the  stage  again  becomes  visible, 
on  the  right  is  a  platform  bearing  a 
table  and  two  thrones;  on  the  left  a 
platform  with  a  table  and  throne.  On 
the  tables  are  golden  drinking  cups. 
Below  each  platform  is  another  table. 
Slaves  stand  waiting  to  serve,  A 
cheer  is  heard  outside,  then  enters 
Taxiles  preceded  by  a  small  body- 
guard and  followed  by  the  chief  men 
of  the  kingdom.  Taxiles  takes  the 
throne  on  the  left,  the  guards  stand 
behind  him  and  the  others  range 
themselves  below,  A  louder  and 
more  prolonged  cheer,  followed  by  the 
Macedonian  battle-cry,  is  heard,  and 
then  Alexander  enters.  Behind 
him  come  Heph^stion,  other  Greek 
Generals,  one  Persian  and  Proteas. 
Then   follow   three    of   the   Cavalry 


ACT  II  YZDRA  103 

Companions  as  a  guard.  These  are 
dressed  in  their  own  uniform,  Heph- 
iESTiON  wears  Persian  costume  and 
the  other  Greek  Generals  are  dressed 
in  the  Macedonian  manner.  Alex- 
ander wears  a  combination  of  the 
Persian  and  Median  royal  costumes. 
He  goes  to  the  vacant  throne  which 
is  the  farther  from  the  stage  of  the 
two.  Taxiles  rises  and  they  ex- 
change salutes.  Hepilestion  seats 
himself  on  the  steps  just  below  Alex- 
ANDER.  Proteas  after  prostrat- 
ing  himself  stands  to  one  side  and 
the  others  take  seats  at  the  table. 
While  they  are  doing  this,  Alex- 
ander talks  aside  to  HEPHiESTiON. 

HEPHiESTiON.     How  fares  my  Lord? 

Alexander.  The  Queen  has  told  me 
all. 


I04  YZDRA  ACT  II 

Heph^stion.     Some  fearful  thing? 

Alexander        Most  fearftd  and  most 
strange. 
She  saves  my  life,  disclosing  treachery. 

Heph^stion.     Of  whom? 

Alexander.     Of  Poros  and  the  Brah- 
man both. 

Heph^stion.    The  Rajah  too? 

Alexander.     He  also  knows  the  plot. 
I  have  learned  all  but  will  not  tell  you  all. 
The  Princess  comes  to  grace  our  festival, 
But  for  the  absent  men  make  some  excuse. 

HEPH.ESTI0N.     [Rising!] 
The  Emperor  bids  me  tell  what  all  should 

know — 
The   reason   why  we  lack  to-night  two 

guests. 
Whose  absence  something  mars  our  festival. 
The  Rajah  of  Abhisara  prepares 
With  necessary  haste  his  messages, 


ACT  II  YZDRA  105 

Which  tell  of  how  the  embassy  has  sped : 
His  presence  much  would  grace  our  com- 
pany, 
His  absence  dulls  our  joy.    The  Brahman 

old 
O'erwearied  with  the  burden  of  his  years, 
Which  bore  not  easily  the  journey  here. 
Betakes  himself  to  rest  and  lonely  thought. 
As  is  the  custom  with  philosophers 
Who  find  their  pleasure  in  the  mind,  and 

scorn 
Such  joyous  usages  as  games  and  feasts. 
The  Princess  Yzdra  comes,  and  having  her, 
Our  lack  of  these,  the  absent  guests,  seems 
naught. 
Alexander.     Thee,  worthy  Proteas,  we 
do  appoint 
For  this  one  night  to  bear  our  cups  to  us. 
And  cheer  our  mood  with  talk.     Not  yet 
begins 


106  YZDRA  ACT  xi 

The  feast,  nor  shall  begin  until  to  us 
The  Princess  Yzdra  comes. 
The  Troops.     [Outside,]    The  Queen! 
The  Queen! 
All  hail  the  Princess  Yzdra! 
All.    [Within.]  Hail,  all  hail! 

The  Princess  enters, 
[She  is  pale   hut  -firm.    Alexander 
steps  down  and  leads  her  to  the  vacant 
throne.     Proteas,   kneeling^   hands 
her  a  golden  cup. 
Alexander.     My  Princess,  now,  with 
your  most  gracious  leave, 
We  will  commence  our  feast  and  festival, 
And  honour  you  whose  presence  honours  us. 
[Yzdra  hows  and  makes  a  gesture  of 
assent.      HEPHiESTiON  motions  the 
attendants.    Some  fill  the  winecups. 
Others  bring  in  dishes.    Musicians 
enter  with  various  Greek  instruments 


ACT  II  YZDRA  107 

and  range  themselves  on  the  steps  of 
the  couch  at  the  rear  of  the  stage. 
After  an  instrumental  prelude  played 
on  the  flutes,  the  Page  who  sang  at 
the  opening  of  the  present  act  sings: 

In  all  the  world  I  see  your  face — 

By  night,  by  day  in  every  place ; 

Where   Phcebiis   bums    through   western 

skies 
I  find  the  glory  of  your  eyes, 
And  Cynthia,  silver  on  the  sea 
Your  girlhood  seems,  at  rest  in  me. 

[A  Greek  Slave  Girl  sings  the  an- 
swering stanza: 
And  when  my  eyes  are  closed  in  sleep, 
Your  image  safe  within  they  keep; 
In  dreams  I  touch  your  lips,  your  hands, 
And  breathe  the  words  love  understands, 
But  waked  from  dreams  I  sigh  alway 


I08  YZDKA  ACT  II 

For  you  who  miss  me,  night  and  day. 

\Boih  together. 
Ah  Love,  as  in  the  vacant  sky 
When  night  is  past  and  dawn  is  nigh. 
There  lives  alone  one  planet  blue, 
So  all  my  Heaven  has  only  you ! 
So  all  my  Heaven  has  only  you! 

YzDRA.    A  sweet,  sad  song,  O  King. 

Alexander.  Love  unftdfilled 

Breeds  strange  illusions. 

YzDRA.  Yet  the  singer  told 

Of  absence  only ;  sadder  songs  would  come 
From  one  who  sought  the  bourne  where 

Life  meets  Death, 
And  smiles  to  see  its  passion  changed  to 

peace 
In  vast  annihilation,  finding  calm 
Unending,  timeless,  senseless. 

HEPHiESTiON.  Passion's  songs 


ACT  II  YZDRA  109 

Come  undefeated,  struggling  through  the 

void 
From  singers  hushed  in  Hades  who  can  give 
To  love  its  only  immortality. 

YzDRA.     But  see,  some  further  pleasure 
comes  to  us. 

Enter  a  Hindu  Dancing  Girl. 
\She  dances  to  ike  accompaniment  of 
players.     During  all  this  scene,  the 
feast  is  in  progress.     Proteas  says 
nothing  but  has  comic  business  such 
as    stealing    wines    and   food,    and 
approaching  the  King  and  Yzdra 
each  time  with  a  pronounced  obei- 
sance.    He  evidently  is  filled  with  a 
sense  of  the  importance  of  his  office 
and  he  orders  about  the  servants  with 
arrogance. 
Heph^stion.     My  Queen,  how  pleases 
you  the  maiden's  dance? 


I  lO  YZDRA  ACT  II 

YzDRA.    I  like  it  well  and  would  see 

more  of  them. 
[Aside.]    The  mtisic  chimes  a  sadness 

like  mine  own. 
Alexander.    [Aside.]    Be  not  so  sad. 
YzDRA.    [Aside,]        What  help  is  there 

for  us? 
HepHuEStion.      The  Queen,  I  trust,  ere 
long  will  come  with  us 
To  see  our  dancing  girls  in  Macedon. 
YzDRA.     I  would  be  glad  of  that. 
HEPHiESTiON.         What  have  we  here? 
Enter  a  Hindu  Juggler  with  his  atten- 
dants. 
[While     he    is    performing    two     or 
three   of   the  famous   Hindu  tricks 
Proteas    stands    open-mouthed    in 
amazement  and  forgets  to  fill  the  cups. 
After  the  first  trick  Proteas  speaks 
hut  keeps  his  eyes  upon  the  Hindu. 


ACT  II  YZDRA  III 

Proteas.     My  liege,  I  think  he  must  be 
half  divine; 
No  mortal  man  could  do  such  wondrous 
things. 
Heph^stion.    Amazement  fills  me. 
Alexander.  Yea,  'tis  very  strange. 

[During    the    second    trick    Proteas 
shows  increasing  fear,  and  at  the  close 
he  starts  to  prostrate  himself  before  the 
Hindu. 
Stand  up.     Stand  up. 

Heph^estion.    This  thing  is  wonderful. 
Alexander,    [To  Yzdra.]   Out  Grecian 
wisdom  seems  but  poor  indeed, 
Beside  your  eastern  magic. 

Heph^stion.  Socrates 

For  all  his  knowledge  could  not  reach  to 
this. 
Yzdra.    Our  thought  is  old ,  yet  stretches 
upward  still ; 


112  YZDRA  ACT  II 

Onward  and  upward  till  it  clasps  the  gods. 
But  all  is  impotent  when  sorrow  comes; 
It  cannot  free  the  heart  where  anguish 

dwells, 
Or  dry  the  smallest  of  a  woman's  tears. 
Alexander.    Yet  courage  often  wins 
what  thought  gives  up, 
And  hews  its  way  to  sunlight  from  the  dark. 
YzDRA.     [AsidCf  touching  her  breast.] 
*Tis  midnight  here. 

Alexander.        I  see  a  sluggish  dawn. 
[At  the  close  of  the  third  trick,  the  soldiers 
outside  are  heard. 
The   Soldiers:    The  games!   Do  not 

forget  the  games!    The  games! 

Alexander.     Indeed,   we   had   forgot. 

The  soldiers  wait.     [Rising.] 

Do  you  lead  on  unto  the  games  and  soon 

The  Queen  and  I  will  follow;  first  we  hold 

Some  further  conference  of  private  things. 


ACT  II  YZDRA  113 

[Taxiles  rising,  bows  to  Alexander 
and  YzDRA  and  goes  out  followed  by 
his  train,  and  then  by  the  Greeks, 
Alexander  and  Yzdra  alone  come 
down  to  the  centre  of  the  stage. 
Yzdra.     What  have  you  done? 
Alexander.       I  know  the  awful  truth ; 
The  oracle  was  clear,  I  must  believe ; 
And  he  who  voiced  the  god  confirms  it  now ; 
There  is  no  room  for  doubt. 

Yzdra.  Then  none  for  hope. 

[Looking  up  at  him  bravely.] 
I  know  you  cannot  love  me  any  more. 
Alexander.     I  cannot  choose  but  love 

in  spite  of  all. 

Yzdra.     It  cannot  be  your  love  is  like 

mine  own 

That  rends  me,  speechless,  with  its  agony. 

Alexander.    But  one  poor  way  I  see. 

Yzdra.  Oh,  tell  me  that. 


114  YZDRA  ACT  I! 

Alexander.    A  strange,  sad  way  it  is 
and  leads  to  death. 

YzDRA.    To  death  and  not  to  love. 

Alexander*  To  love  fulfilled, 

Then  death. 

YzDRA.        Ah,  love  ftdfilled  is  all  I 
crave! 
To  cling  unto  your  lips,  then  welcome  death. 
I  love  too  much,  for  life  beyond  your  arms 
Has  naught  for  me. 

Alexander.  And  naught  for  me, 

O  Queen. 
This   love  is  strong  indeed,   his   arrows 

woimd ; 
And  I,  the  conqueror,  who  thought  to  rule. 
Am  bowed  in  vassalage ;  the  world  and  life. 
My  joy  of  conquest  and  the  stress  of  fight 
Seem  nothing  more  to  me. 

Yzdra.  Yea,  love  is  strong! 

It  bows  me,  sways  me,  fills  me,  takes  away 


ACT  II  YZDRA  115 

My  power  of  thought.  I  only  crave  to  come 
Unto   yotir   arms — ^then   hide   myself   in 

death. 
But  you?  Whatever  happens,  you  will  live. 
Now  tell  your  plan. 
Alexander.        To  yield  ourselves  to 

Fate. 
YzDRA.    You  cannot  mean  to  die,  ac- 
cepting all 
The  horror  and  the  shame  of  such  a  death — 
So  yoimg  in  mid  career — for  my  dread  love. 
That  fotd,  polluted  thing! 

Alexander.    \Sadly  but  firmly.]     Yet 
this  I  mean. 

[YzDRA  gazes  at  him  for  a  moment, 

and  as  she  looksy  tenderness  slowly 

comes  in  place  of  her  former  wildness, 

YzDRA.    To  die  for  me!    [She  puts  her 

hands  on  his  shoulders.] 

Let  passion  be  controlled 


Il6  YZDRA  ACT  II 

And  let  us  live  with  lips  that  never  meet, 
But  joinM  hearts  and  hands. 

Alexander.  That  could  not  be. 

Not  till  I  drain  the  certainty  of  death 
From  their  excess  of  sweetness  do  I  live. 
YzDRA.     When  passion  cools  with  age 
we  two  will  go 
Toward  death  together,  happy  in  our  love. 
Alexander.     That  cannot,  shall  not  be ! 
Not  Tantalus 
Does  madden  so  with  thirst  as  I  for  you, 
And  not  so  heavy  is  the  doom  he  bears 
As  this  would  be.    Life  has  not  aught  for 

us 
But  love  fulfilled. 
YzDRA.    \Wiik  less  assurance.]    I  will 

not  have  it  so! 
Alexander.  [Speaking  in  a  tone  of 

absolute  decision,  and  putting  all  the 
force  and  resolution  of  his  character  in 


ACT  II  YZDRA  1 1 7 

the  assertion.]    My  love  is   stronger 
than  the  bonds  of  life. 
YzDRA.     [Very  wildly  and  with  all  pos- 
sible intensity.] 
He  loves  as  I !  [She  springs  toward  him.]   I 
do  accept  your  love. 
Alexander  steps  toward  her  impul- 
sively and  then  checks  himself  with 
a  great  effort, 
Alexander.     But  one  thing  more  I  do 
before  the  end: 
I  thirst  for  vengeance  on  the  dastard  king 
Who   planned   this   coward's   trick,    and 
poisoned  you. 
YzDRA.     [Slowly  and  thoughtfully.] 
My  people  expiate  my  father's  fault. 
I  grieve  for  them,  but  grieve  not  much  for 

him 
Who  justly  falls.     He  gave  no  love  to  me, 
And  yet  the  ending  of  my  ancient  race 


Il8  YZDRA  ACT  II 

Through  me  brings  sorrow. 

Alexander.  Love  forgotten  seems. 

YzDRA.    Ah,  no!    A  moment's  grief  and 
that  is  all. 
Be  swift  and  sure:  my  father's  host  is 
strong. 
Alexander.     Or  weak  or  strong,  I  shall 
defeat  him  soon. 
Then    vengeance   satisfied,    world-empire 

won. 
We  drink  our  cup  of  passion,  yield  to  Fate. 
YzDRA.     Ah!  love  is  strong! 
Alexander  I  do  not  fear  to  die. 

*Tis  best  to  seek  the  shades  with  blazing 

course, 
A  star  across  the  night ;  not  slowly  fade 
When  men  have  half  forgot  how  once  you 
shone. 
Yzdra.     Yea,  that  were  good:  to  live 
one  perfect  hour. 


ACT  II  YZDRA  119 

Then  fall  like  stars  while  all  men  stand 
amazed. 
Alexander.    There    seems    no    other 

way  for  you  and  me. 
YzDRA.    What  do  you  with  the  Brahman  ? 
Alexander.      He  shall  go 
With  ignominy  heaped,  and  if  he  will 
May  tell  his  jackal  king  the  lion  comes. 
To-morrow  mom  shall  see  our  march  begin. 
YzDRA.    Ah,  Love,  do   swiftly   this — 
your  last  great  deed — 
And  then  we  drain  the  cup,  let  come  what 
will! 
Alexander.    It  cannot  come  too  soon. 
The  Soldiers.       The  King!  The  King  I 

Enter  HEPHiESTiON 
HEPHiESTiON.    The  soldiers  grow   im- 
patient. 
Alexander.     Now,  we  come.    [Exeunt. 
Curtain 


ACT  III 


131 


;     ACT  III. 
Scene  I. 

A  CORRIDOR  IN  THE   PALACE    OF    POROS. 

PoROS  discovered.    Enter  Prince. 

Prince.    Again  I  greet  you,  Sire. 
PoROS.  Be  welcome,  son. 

How  fared  you  on  your  errand? 

Prince.  Well,  my  Lord; 

If  present  plans  should  fail,  in  three  days* 

time 
You  can  command  an  army  worthy  you. 
I  fotmd  the  separate  chiefs  each  well  dis- 
posed 
With  love  and  loyalty  to  serve  your  cause ; 
They  all  have  raised  their  men  and  wait 
your  word. 
Poros.    That  news  is  good ;  should  our 

first  arrow  miss, 
123 


124  YZDRA  ACT  III 

The   bow  is   bent   to   send   the    second 

forth. 
No  news  has  reached  me  yet.     I  would  we 

knew 
What  so  delays  the  Brahman's  messenger. 
Prince.     My  mind  forebodes  some  dire 

mischance. 
PoROS.  And  mine. 

I  never  played  this  hypocritic  game 
With  any  zeal:  a  man  should  fight  with 
arms. 
Prince.    The  way  we  took  was  pointed 
by  the  gods, 
But  still  my  mind  keeps  boding  ill  on  ill. 
There  must  be  news  ere  long. 

PoROS.  My  patience  wanes. 

Prince.     What    made    you    send    the 
Princess  Yzdra's  nurse 
So  hotly  after  her? 

Poros.  How  knew  you  that? 


SCI  YZDRA  125 

Prince.  She  passed  me,  speeding  swiftly 

on  her  way. 
PoROS.     'Twas  best  the  Princess  should 
have  someone  by 
Who  knew  her  fearful  secret  and   who 

could, 
If  need  there  were,  sustain  the  Brahman's 

plans. 
She  reared  the  girl  and  she  is    worthy 

trust. 
But  look,  who  comes? 

Prince.  It  is  the  Brahman,  Sire. 

PoROS.    The  Brahman! 
Prince.  Aye,  all  woe- 

begone and  weak. 
With  clotted  hair,  his  garments  soiled  and 

torn; 
He  scarce  can  stand. 

Enter  Brahman. 
PoROS.     What  brings  you  in  this  plight  ?" 


126  YZDRA  ACT  III 

Brahman.     To  arms!  to  arms!  there  is 

no  other  way. 
PoROS.     The  King  refused  her  then? 
Brahman.  He  learned  our  plot, 

And  pale  with  anger  marches  on  you  now. 
Prince.  How  could  he  learn  the  plot? 
PoROS.  No  time  for  words! 

Go  you,  send  messengers  to  all  the  chiefs. 
Brahman.    The    Princess    learned    by 
accident  her  power, 
And  through  a  woman's  weakness  told  the 
King. 
PoROS.     He  did  not  doubt  the  truth? 
Brahman.  How  could  he  doubt  ? 

I  said  that  fever  might  have  killed  the 

child ; 
But  she  had  told  him  of  the  oracle, 
And  none  there  is  who  disbelieves  the  gods. 
PoROS.     It  was  the  truth  that  fever 
killed  the  child. 


sc.  I  YZDRA  127 

Prince.    And  not  the  poison? 

PoROS.  No,  for  I  have  learned 

Its  mother  died  of  fever  just  before, 
And  that  was  why  it  wandered  off  alone. 
Its  death  proved  nothing. 

Prince.  Nor  disproves  it  now; 

We  need  no  proof  beyond  the  oracle. 

Poros.     We  have  not  now  the  slightest 
trace  of  proof; 
We   know   they   gave   her  poisons,  but 

know  not 
That  she  has  gained  their  power. 

Brahman.  If  there  is    one 

Who  thinks  the  words  I  uttered  in  my 

trance 
Were  not  directly  spoken  by  the  god, 
Let  him  believe  the  Princess  is  the  same 
As  other  maidens  are. 

Prince.  None  such  there  is ; 

We  cannot  doubt  a  dream  or  oracle. 


128  YZDRA  ACTin 

PoROs.       I  cannot  choose  but  doubt 
without  some  proof ; 
But  true,  or  false,  it  does  not  matter  now; 
The  war  is  on   our   hands;   the  Grecian 

comes. 
Where  is  Abhisara? 

Brahman.  Two  nights  ago 

He  left  me  while  I  slept  and  took  away 
The  scant  provisions  we  had  gathered  up. 
Prince.     It  cannot  be  that  he  is  trai- 
torous ! 
PoROs.     Go  you  and  do  our  bidding; 
raise  the  host. 
Though  all  should  traitors  prove,  ourself 

will  fight 
And  be  this  Grecian's  death,  or  die  by  him. 

\_Exii  Prince. 
And  you :  our  royal  curse  be  on  your  head ! 
Our  curse,  and  if  it  come,  the  country's 
doom! 


sc.  I  YZDRA  129 

No  more  will  I  be  led  from  valour*s  course 
To  follow  darkly  twisting  paths  of  stealth, 
Or  prop  my  kingdom  on  imcertain  dreams 
That  make  me  scorn  myself,  and  leaned 

on,  fail. 

Brahman.     My  Lord 

PoROS.  Nay,  hear  me 

speak.     When  first  I  gave 
Consent   to   yield   the   Princess   to   your 

will 
My    mind    foreboded    fearful    things  to 

come; 
But  now  I  fight!     My  own  brave  way  is 

left. 
Brahman.     And  I,  with  you,  will  face 

the  Grecian  darts, 
Inciting  all  to  fight  for  king  and  gods. 
My  plan  has  failed,  some  demon  thwarted 

us, 
So  now  I  aid  your  courage  in  the  field. 


130  YZDRA  ACT  111 

I  faint  for  lack  of  food. 

PoROS.  Go  you  to  rest, 

And  I  will  make  provision  for  the  war; 
Then  later  we  will  hear  your  tale  rehearsed. 

Curtain, 


Scene  II. 

yzdra's  tent  in  Alexander's  camp  on 

the  west  bank  of  the  hydaspes. 

[It  is   the  afternoon  before  the  battle. 

YzDRA  is  discovered  reclining  on  a 

couch;  slaves  are  fanning  her.    Enter 

^  Nurse. 

Nurse.    My  Lotos  Flower,  your  father 

bade  me  take 

His  swiftest  elephant  to  follow  you, 

Lest  in  this  strange  new  world  you  feel  the 

lack 

Of  me  and  my  accustomed  services. 

I  missed  you  many  times  but  find  at  last. 

[YzDRA  rising  furiously   motions   the 

slaves    to    leave.     As    they   go,    she 

stands  looking  at  the  Nurse,  then 

breaks  out  in  uncontrolled  passion. 
131 


1 32  YZDRA  ACT  III 

YzDRA.    Thou  here!  Thou  dare  to  come 
and  face  me  now! 
I  know  thee,  what  thou  art,  and  scorn  thy 

wiles 
Of  imforgiven  infamy. 

Nurse.  My  child! 

YzDRA.     Nay,  **child"  not  me!  I  know 
thee,  know  myself — 
The  thing  that  thou  hast  made  me.    Ven- 
geance waits. 
Nurse.    You  mean  my  death! 
YzDRA.       Aye,  death!  Look  not  about; 
Thou  canst  not  fly,  but  when  thou  goest 

from  hence 
Thou  goest  a  stricken  thing,  with  poison 

mied. 
To  die  a  hateful  death. 

Nurse.  Not  that !  Not  that ! 

[YzDRAhas  been  slowly  recovering  herself 
and  speaks  now  with  more  dignity. 


sen  YZDRA  1 33 

YzDRA.     'Tis  justice  only.     Dost  thou 
tremble  now 
In  pity  of  thyself,  who  pitied  not 
Thy  foster-child? 

Nurse.  Oh,  grant  some  other 

death 
Less  awful  in  itself,  aught  else  but  this! 
YzDRA.     \She  begins  speaking  with  a  start 
of  surprise  as  the  idea  strikes  her; 
and  as  she  continues,  speaking  half 
to  herself  and  thinking  of  Alex- 
ander, her  manner  becomes  gradually 
less  hard  and  her  passion  subsides 
till  at  the  close  she  speaks  dreamily 
with  nothing  in  her  voice  and  eyes 
but  her  love  for  him. 
It  might  be  that  the  poison  would  not  work, 
Despite  the  Brahman's  wisdom.      Gods, 

dear  gods. 
How  happy  would  we  be  if  this  were  proved ! 


134  YZDIIA  ACT  III 

And  we  could  live  and  love  and  rule  the 

world, 
Forgetting  all  this  coil  of  hate  and  tears. 
Nurse.     It   could   not    fail.    Forgive. 

My  death  is  sure. 
YzDRA.    [Pleading  for  some  confirmation 
of  her  hope. 
You  know  that  death  is  sure? 

Nurse.  Forgive  me!   Spare! 

YzDRA.  [Wildly  again,]  Didst  thou 
spare  me?  Nay,  then  I  make  the 
test! 

[She  springs  toward  her  and  then  stops 
suddenly,  a  look  of  bewilderment  on 
her  face, 
YzDRA.     I  cannot  seem  to  do  it. 
Nurse.  Spare  me !  Spare ! 

YzDRA.     I  could  have  done  it  once. 
Nurse.  Forgive  me. 

YzDRA.  Yea, 


St.  n  YZDRA  1 35 

I  cannot  help  myself,  for  love  has  come 
And  tamed  me  from  my  wildness.     Go  in 

peace. 
Yes,  go!    Since  life  is  sweet,  I  give  thee 

back 
Thy  few  grey  years,  and  suffer  all  myself. 
Go  quickly  though;  it  might  be  I  should 
change. 

\The  Nurse  looks  at  her  doubtfully 
for  a  moment  and  then  hurries  out. 
YzDRA  throws  herself  exhausted  on 
the  couch. 

[After  a  pause. 
She  really  seemed  to  love  me  years  ago. 

[After  a  shorter  pause. 
I  wonder  if  my  garden  looks  the  same, 
And  if  those  climbing  roses  reached  the 

tree. 
I  wish  that  I  had  asked  her. 

[She  calls.]  Nurse!  Oh,  Nurse! 


136  YZDRA  ACT  III 

She  is  not  there.     I  never  shall  forget 
The  garden  nor  those  childish  dreams  I 

dreamed 
And  told  unto  the  roses. 

\She  goes  to   the  door  to  look  for  the 
Nurse  just   as   a  slave  ushers  in 

HEPHiESTION. 

Heph^stion.  Greetings,  Queen. 

YzDRA.     Be  welcome,  General. 
Heph^stion.  But  why 

so  sad? 
YzDRA.       I  cannot  quite  forget  my  gar- 
den home, 
Nor  all  the  dreams  I  dreamed  among  the 

hills; 
And  sometimes  in  my  sleep  I  seem  to  wake 
And  feel  the  flowers  that  I  loved  so  well, 
Unseen,  but  all  about  me,  everywhere. 
And  sometimes,  even  when  the  King  is  by, 
And  speaks  of  love  to  me  and  I  to  him. 


SC.II  YZDRA  137 

A  sound  or  scent  will  bring  my  garden  here ; 
Then  all  the  past  comes  flooding  to  my 

eyes: 
It  is  a  part  of  me  and  must  remain. 
But  this  is  naught  to  you.     You  bring  me 
news? 
Heph^stion.      The  usual  news — ^that 
Alexander  longs 
To  see  you  once  again.     He  sent  me  here 
To  ask  if  he  might  come  at  once. 

YzDRA.  Ah,  yes; 

'Tis  afternoon  and  every  crawling  hour 
Since  yestermom  when  last  I  saw  the  King 
Has  stretched  to  double  length  its  weari- 
ness. 
Heph^stion.      The  King  but  now  re- 
turned to  the  camp. 
YzDRA.     How  fared  his  scouting  party  ? 
Heph^stion.  Well,  I  think. 

Your  father's  host  upon  the  other  shore 


138  YZDRA  ACT  in 

Keeps  close  to  camp,  and  we  must  linger 

here 
Until  the  flood  abates;  we  cannot  cross. 
The  King  may  come  at  once? 

YzDRA.  Yes,  bid  him  come. 

HEPHiESTiON.      My  feet  are  shod  with 
Hermes'  sandals,  Queen, 
To  bear  with  swiftest  speed  your  messages. 

[Exit   HEPHiESTION. 

YzDRA.    Yet  once  again  he  comes,  yet 
once  again 
My  passion  springs  to  meet  him. 

[She  looks  at  herself  in  a  burnished 
copper  mirror. 

Fair  I  am : 
That  matters  not — ^he  could  not  love  me 

more 
If  all  the  gods    should   with  each   other 

vie 
To  heap  divine  perfections  on  my  head ; 


sen  YZDRA  1 39 

He  would  not  love  me  less,   if  beauty 

changed 
To  strange  deformity. 

Enter  Alexander. 
Ah,  Lover,  King, 
So  long  has  absence  seemed,  so  very  long! 
Alexander.    Yea,  like  eternity  to  souls 

imblessed. 
YzDRA.    But    are    you    wholly    mine? 
When  you  are  here 
I  would  not  have  you  king  or  general. 
Or  aught  I  cannot  share,  but  mine,  and 

mine. 
And  mine  alone — ^the  well-loved  lover  only. 
Alexander.    All    yours    I    am.    The 
world  outside  is  like 
Some  dim  remembered  dream  when  one 

awakes ; 
My  life  is  yours,  and  soon — ^this  night 
perhaps — 


140  YZDRA  ACT  in 

I  die  to  hold  you  closely,  mine  indeed. 

YzDRA.     So  soon! 

Alexander.  The  battle  will  be 

joined  to-night. 

YzDRA.     Ah,  do  not  risk  the  battle ! 

Alexander.  This  one  deed 

To  crown  my  life  before  the  eyes  of  men 
I  do;  and  then  at  last,  world-empire  won, 
I  yield  me  to  my  passion,  hold  you  close. 
My  own  indeed ;  the  world  and  life  forgot 
In  love's  full  ecstasy  of  eyes  and  lips. 
My  love  is  strong  and  binds  me  more  than 

Fate 
To  work  its  will. 

YzDRA.        The  gods  protect  you,  Love  I 
Do  not  neglect  to  send  me  messages 
Of  how  the  battle  goes.     Remember  her 
Who  waits  and  watches  through  the  lonely 

hours, 
A  prey  to  all  the  fears  love  conjures  up. 


sc.  II  YZDRA  141 

And  yet,  I  would  some  other  course  had  led 
To  love  fulfilled  than  this  sad  way  we 

climb 
Who  mount  upon  the  corpses  of  my  kin 
To  victory.     My  father  and  my  race, 
Our  ancient  name,  through  me  are  doomed 

to  death. 
Alexander.     They  fall,  but  love  upon 

them  stands  alone; 
And  love  is  all  that  counts ;  for  love  I  give 
My  lordship  of  the  world,  and  you  your 

race. 
YzDRA.     I  would  not  have  you,  Love, 

give  up  so  much. 
Ah,   yes,  I  would;    and  yet   I  can  but 

doubt 
When  now  you  reach  the  two  diverging 

ways ; 
One  short  but  very  sweet  through  love  to 

death, 


142  YZDRA  ACT  III 

And  one  that  leads  through  years  of  fame 

and  praise 
To  honoured  age,  if  you  would  not  prefer 
To  walk  the  longer  path,  and  live  your  life. 
I  have  had  many  thoughts  these  last  few 

days: 
It  made  me  think  to  have  the  end  so  near. 
Alexander.     There  is  no  choice  but 

one — ^through  love  to  death. 
YzDRA.     Ah,  yes,  there  is!    The  other 

path  that  here 
Seems  dark  and  hard  to  tread,  with  naught 

beyond, 
Would  soon  grow  easy  for  your  feet;  and 

soon 
You  would  look  forward  brightly,  not  look 

back, 
Forgetting  love.     Then  I,  from  some  lone 

place, 
Would  see  your  glory  in  the  setting  sun 


sc.  II  YZDRA  143 

And  send  my  messengers  to  hear  your  voice 
And  tell  me  of  your  looks. 

Alexander.  I  am  resolved. 

YzDRA.    My  love  may  not  at  last  so 
fatal  prove; 
I  sometimes  hope  again. 

Alexander.  That  cannot  be. 

At  first  I  doubted  if  the  Brahman's  lore 
Had  probed  so  deep  the  secrets  of  the 

gods; 
But  ever  when  I  hoped,  a  phantom  came 
From  that  pale  child  who  wandered  near 

your  home 
And  felt  the  magic  of  your  poisoned  lips, 

YzDRA.     No  hope! 

Alexander.  And  then  so  real 

this  horror  seems, 
So  present  to  my  sight  disgraceful  death; 
I  tremble  at  the  leap  that  love  compels, 
But  will  not  falter  here  upon  the  brink. 


144  YZDRA  ACT  m 

YzDRA.     The  curse  was  mine,  be  mine 

alone  the  doom! 
I  will  not  have  you  share  my  fate  and 

shame; 
The  world  is  yours,  with  life  and  other 

loves ; 
Let  death  be  mine!  I  bare  me  to  the  stroke, 
Beseeching  death  from  you  to  give  you  life, 
The  only  thing  my  fatal  love  can  give. 
I  tried  before  to  tell  you  this,  but  still 
Your  passion  like  a  torrent  whirled  me  on, 
And  swept  me  from  myself  and  blinded  me. 
I  could  not  set  my  will  opposed  to  yours; 
I  did  not  have  the  will ;  but  now  I  have. 

[YzDRA  hares  her  bosom,  imploring  the 
stroke. 
Alexander.     Nay,  Love,  put  by  that 

thought ;  we  two  are  strong 
To  face  our  destiny  unfaltering; 
I  am  resolved  to  make  you  all  my  own. 


sc.  II  YZDRA  145 

And  ere  to-morrow*s  stars  I  come  to  you 
To  call   you   "Bride",  though  Fate  be 
there  to  smite. 
YzDRA.     It    shall    not    be!     My    love 
implores  your  hate; 
I  clasp  it  to  my  breast.     Oh,  leave  me  now, 
And  let  me  take  myself  where  nevermore 
Your  eyes  shall  fill  with  horror  at  my  sight ; 
Or,  let  me  go  and  hide  myself  in  death; 
The  grave  alone  can  cover  shame  like 
mine. 
Alexander.    Come  life,  come  death,  our 
hearts  are  joined  for  both. 
And  love  shall  be  fulfilled. 

YzDRA.  Then  go,  my  King, 

And  certain  victory  attend  your  course ; 
Then   hide  within  my  arms   your  sove- 
reignty. 
Alexander.     I    shall    not    fail.    The 
troops  are  on  the  march 


146  YZDRA  ACT  HI 

And  I,  their  leader,  tarry  here  too  long. 
Love  give  me  wings  to  win  and  come  again  ? 
YzDRA.     Farewell,  and  may  the  gods 
fulfill  my  prayers 
And  bring  you  swiftly  back,  victorious. 

Curtain, 


Scene  III. 

OUTSIDE  THE  TENT  OF  POROS  ON  THE  EAST 
BANK  OF  THE  HYDASPES. 

[PoROS  and  attendants  discovered.      A 

furious  storm  is  raging. 

Enter  Brahman. 

Brahman.     What  news?  They  say  the 

Greeks  attempt  to  cross. 

PoRos.    Aye,  up  the  stream,  just  where 

the  river  bends, 

A  sentry  saw  them  struggling  in  the  flood. 

I  sent  the  Prince  to  beat  them  down  the 

bank; 

They  will  not  win  against  the  tide  and  him. 

Brahman.     What  troops  went  with  the 

Prince  to  meet  them,  Sire? 
147 


148  YZDRA  ACT  111 

PoROS.     A    scanty    force,    but    strong 
enough  to  quell 
This   mad   attempt.     Who  but   a   hare- 
brained boy 
Would  risk  the  crossing,  and  on  such  a 
night? 

Enter  a  Messenger. 
Messenger.    To  arms!  The  Prince  has 
fallen  and  the  Greeks, 
Their  army  in  array,  are  marching  down. 
PoROS.    The  Prince  has  fallen!    Is  our 

son  then  dead? 
Messenger.     They  reached  the  shore 
some  moments  ere  he  came; 
His  force  they  overwhelmed,  and  him  they 
slew. 
Poros.     Nay  then,  to  arms!    Let  each 
man  fight  for  king 
And  cotintry,  for  his  life,  his  home,  his 
lands. 


sc.  Ill  YZDRA  149 

To  arms!  To  arms!  Ourself  will  lead  the 
van. 

Enter  a  second  Messenger. 
PoROS.     Well,  slave,  thy  news? 
Messenger.         The  news  is  black,  my 

Lord. 
PoROS.     It  better  fits  the  night.     What 

is  it?    Speak. 
Messenger.     The  Rajah  of  Abhisara 
has  sent 
To  Alexander  messages  of  peace 
And  offered  firm  alliance  *gainst  your  state. 
Brahman.     The  curse  of  all  the  gods 

be  on  his  head. 
PoROS.     How  know  you  this  ? 
Messenger.  A  captive  Greek  has 

told. 
Poros.     Enough!    This  night  will  see  a 
battle  fought 
That  shall  surpass  the  glories  of  our  Ind 


ISO  YZDRA  ACT  III 

And  dim  the  deeds  of  all  our  storied  chiefs. 

We  shall  be  sung  of  in  the  coming  years, 

And  taught  to  children  when  their  infant 
hands 

First  learn  to  draw  the  bow|  our  names 
shall  be 

Familiar  to  their  ears  as  household  words 

For  honour,  courage,  strength,  and  hardi- 
hood. 

Yea,  while  we  fight,  the  souls  of  heroes 
dead 

Will  turn  them  backward  on  the  way  to 
Brahm, 

And  think  a  moment  of  remembered  fields 

Not  told  of  more  than  this  shall  ever  be. 

Attend  me  all :  your  king  to  conquest  leads. 
All:    Lead  on,  lead  on! 

Curtain. 


Scene  IV. 

THE   SAME  AS  SCENE  II. 

[YzDRA  is  reclining  on  a  couch;  the 
Greek  slave  girl  is  in  attendance. 
Slave  :    My  Queen,  I  sing  you  now  the 
last  sad  song 
That  Sappho  wrought  in  Lesbos,  long  ago. 
YzDRA.     Oh,  sing  it  not!    No  rumour 
yet  has  come 
Of  how  the  battle  goes.    I  cannot  heed 
Your  minstrelsy  when  heart  and  ears  and 

eyes 
Are  strained  to  meet  his  tardy  messenger. 
[She  goes  to  the  door  and  listens;  then 
speaks  mechanically  and  rather  more 
to  herself  than  to  the  slave. 
The  King  succeeded  in  his  mad  attempt 

151 


152  YZDRA  ACT  III 

To  cross  the.  swollen  river.     Night  and 

storm 
But  made  it  worse.     He  could  not  brook 

delay 
But  woiild  lead  on,  though  all  the  elements 
Conspired    with     Poros    darkly    for    his 

doom. 

Enter    Heph^stion    jresh    from    the 
field. 
Heph^stion.     The  field    is    won  and 

Alexander  comes. 
YzDRA.     Oh  gods,  I  give  you  thanks! 

But  is  he  safe? 
Without  a  wound? 

Heph^stion.  Without  a  woimd  he 

comes. 
We  gained  this  day  a  greater  victory 
Than  Issus  or  Arbela.  Poros  lives. 
YzDRA.     For  that  again  I  thank  the  holy 

gods. 


sc.  IV  YZDRA  153 

Heph^stion.     He  fell  into  our  hands 
with  many  wounds. 

The   Rajah   held  aloof;  the   Prince  suc- 
cumbed 

To  greater  force,  though  long  he  fought 
and  well. 
YzDRA.        Poor    Prince    and    Brother! 
Would  that  he  had  lived  • 

And  yet  I  do  not  know.     It  would  have 
been 

Most  hard   for  him  to  miss  his   ancient 
state, 

To  see  his  coimtry  vanquished  and  his 
King: 

Our  race  is  proud.     How  went  the  battle 
then? 
Heph^stion.     We  led   our   army   to- 
ward the  Indian  camp, 

And  Poros  marched  on  us  until  he  found 

A  plain  and  halted ;  there  in  full  array 


154  YZDRA  ACT  III 

Each  drew  his  army  up.     We  turned  their 

flanks, 
And  then,  their  rear  attacking,  hemmed 

them  in. 
YzDRA.     The  slaughter  lasted  long? 
Heph^stion.  They  would  not 

yield 
Until  their  leader  sank  beneath  his  wounds 
And  left  the  field;  for  while  his  strength 

held  out 
He  led  with  wondrous  valour,  charge  on 

charge. 
YzDRA.     I  oft  have  heard  him  called  a 

king  indeed, 
A  man  of  noble  bearing,  strength  and  skill, 
One  bom  to  rule,  and  not  to  know  defeat. 
Through  what  strange  ways  the  gods  work 

out  their  will! 
Not    long  ago  I  sought     to    serve    the 

State, 


sc.  IV  yZDJ^A  155 

And  now  I  scarce  can  weep  my  country's 

doom, 
My   father's   bondage  and   my  brother's 

death; 
So  love  has  changed  me  from  the  thing  I 

was. 
Heph^estion.     But  had  they  won  it  had 

been  worse  for  you — 
For  then  had  Alexander  found  defeat. 

YzDRA.    [Aside.]    And  now  finds  death. 

[To  Heph^stion.]   It  all  seems  horrible. 

Heph^stion.     On  victory  does  horror 

still  attend — 
A  bird  of  evil  omen  swooping  down 
To  wet  its  dripping  beak  with  loathsome 

food 
And  spread  defilement   on  the  pomp  of 

war. 
YzDRA.     [Looking  at  Heph^stion.]        ^ 
The  victors  even  come  with  stainM  arms. 


1 56  YZDRA  ACT  m 

Heph^stion.     Last  night  unusual  hor- 
rors marked  our  strife — 
The  swollen  stream  and  then  the  tempest 

dread 
That   shot   the  firmament   with  thtmder 

bolts. 
The  very  gods  themselves  seemed  taking 

part — 
The  Indians'  to  protect  the  native  host, 
While  all  Olympus  rallied  to  our  aid, 
Assisting  Ammon's  son  to  victory. 
YzDRA.     It  was  a  dreadful  night! 
Heph^stion.  More  dread  to  me 

Than  any  tumult  of  the  elements 
The  Brahman  seemed. 

YzDRA.  Was  he  amid  the  fray? 

Heph^stion.     He   spoke   as   prophets 
speak,  with  god-like  power; 
And    ever     where     the     battle     fiercest 
raged 


sc.  IV  YZDRA  157 

He  came,  despising  death,  to  urge  the 

troops 
With  imprecation  and  encouragement. 
A  dreadful  sight  he  was ;  with  blazing  eyes 
And  voice  that  shrilled  with  anger  of  the 

gods 
He  urged  the  Indians  on,  and  where  he 

came 
Like  some  avenging  fury,  all  the  Greeks 
Fell  back  dismayed  and  dropped  their 

blood-stained  spears. 
At  length  a  far-shot  arrow  found  him  out ; 
But  even  then,  upon  his  elbow  raised, 
He  still  urged  on  his  menj  at  last  he 

swooned. 
The    Greeks    around    him    pressed    with 

wondering  looks 
And  took  him  captive.    Soon  they  bring 

him  here. 

\A  contused  shouting  is  heard.     He- 


158  YZDRA  ACT  III 

PH^STiON  goes  to  the  door.     Enter 

soldiers  half  carrying  the  Brahman. 

He  is  very  weak  and  his  robes  are 

stained  and  torn]  but  the  moment  he 

sees  YzDRA  he  straightens  up  and 

stands  supported   by    the    soldiers. 

YzDRA  looks  at  himy  showing  first 

defiance,  then  pity,  followed,  as  he 

raises  himself,  by  fear. 

Brahman.     Oh  thou,  who  workest  thus 

thy  country's  doom, 

Let  horror  seize  thee  and  let  darkness  fall 

Upon  thy  lustful  eyes  till  love  be  turned 

To  loathing.     Siva,  Vishnu,  Brahm,  delay 

Not  now  to  work  the  curse  I  speak,  and 

change 
This  traitor  to  the  thing  she  most  abhors. 
Let  her  in  death  find  no  forget  fulness. 
But  still  remember  through  a  thousand 
lives 


sc.  IV  YZDRA  15^ 

Her  crime,  her  scorned  name,  her  father's 

woe. 
Her  nation's  bondage  and  my  dying  curse. 
And  let  her  btim  with  passion,  evermore 
Unsatisfied  and  seeking  still  the  love 
That  made  her  traitorous  to  King  and  gods. 
Let  her  in  death— 

\A  paroxysm  of  pain  comes  to  him;  he 

pauses, 
YzDRA.     Oh,  spare  me!   Spare  me  more! 
Brahman.     Let  her  in  death  no  respite 
gain,  or  peace; 
And  let  her  hear  forevermore  her  name 
A  word  of  infamy  in  common  mouths. 
YzDRA.     Oh,  spare  me!  Spare  me  this! 
Enter  Alexander. 
{He  has  bathed  and  anointed  himself 
since  the  battle.     Yzdra  springs  to 
him  for  protection. 

Ah,  Lover,  King! 


l6o  YZDRA  ACT  III 

Brahman.    Thee  too  I  curse. 
Alexander.         Nay,  curse  thyself,  for 
thou 
Art  author  of  thine  own  calamity. 

Brahman.     With  cheek  unblanched  and 
bosom  undefiled 
I  die,  for  I  am  guiltless.     I  alone 
Gave  heed  to  Siva's  will,  for  Poros  scorned 
The  gods,  and  she — 
Alexander.  She  clove  to  love 

and  honour. 
Brahman.    The  gods  have  sent  swift 
vengeance,  and  the  blow 
Has  glanced  to  me,  who,  innocent,  now 

die 

In  their  disaster  whelmed.     I  stifle!    Air! 

My  curse  be  on  you  both.    Oh  gods !    I  die ! 

\Ee  falls  to  the  floor.     HEPHiESxioN 

goes  over  and  examines  him  to  see  if 

he  is  dead.     Yzdra  stands  hiding  her 


sc.  IV  YZDRA  l6l 

^ace  against  Alexander  who  has 
one  arm  about  her  supporting  her. 
HEPHiESTiON.     His  ghost  has  gone  to  join 

the  shades  below; 
On  this  side  Lethe's  stream  it  long  will  wail^ 
Cast  out  from  either  world. 
Alexander.    [To   the   soldiers.]    Bear 
him  away. 
And  do  you  leave  us  too,  Hephaestion. 
HEPHiESTiON.    I  will,  my  Liege.     Fare- 
well. 
Alexander.  Live  long,  my  friend. 

You  have  my  orders,  let  them  be  fulfilled. 
[Heph^stion  goes  out,    Yzdra  raises 
her  head  from  Alexander's  shoulder 
and  holds  him  at  arms  length.     They 
look  at  each  other  in  silence  for  a 
moment. 
Alexander.    At  last  we  are  together, 
all  the  world 


1 62  YZDRA  ACT  III 

Shut  out. 
YzDRA.     I  have  you  with  me,  wholly 

mine. 
Alexander.    The  Brahman's  curse  has 

made  you  pale  with  fear. 
YzDRA.     I  came  into  your  arms  and 
felt  their  strength, 
And  then  I  did  not  heed  him  any  more. 
The  wound  he  gave  is  healed,  and  now  at 

last 
I  come  to  you,  for  I  am  wholly  yours. 
To  do  with  what  you  wish. 

Alexander.  My  love  exceeds 

The  measure  I  had  dreamed  that  love  could 
fill. 
YzDRA.    From  conquest  come,  you  seem 
a  god  indeed, 
And  I  a  lowly  worshipper  who  wait 
To  pour  the  pure  libation  of  my  love 
Upon  your  altar. 


sc.  A  YZDRA  163 

Alexander.        Nay,  'tis  you  who  seem 
Divine  in  giving  thus  divinely  all 
Yourself. 

YzDRA.       Tis  love  that  makes  tis  both 

divine. 
Alexander.    You   bow   my   heart   in 
giving  thus  yourself; 
I  kneel  as  though  before  some  awful  fane, 
So  pure,  so  dread,  I  dare  not  enter  in, 
And  scarcely  dare  to  look  where  burning 

white, 

Beyond  all  mystery,  Love  sits  enthroned. 

YzDRA.     I  only  have  a  woman's  heart 

to  give — 

A  simple  thing  and  common,  as  it  seems — 

But  you  give  up  the  world,  world-wide 

renown. 
And  this,  without  the  fruits  of  victory. 
[Alexander,  with   profound  pity  in 
his  eyes  J  opens  his  arms  and  stands 


164  YZDRA  ACT  iir 

waiting  for  her  to  come  to  him.     She 
hesitates  a  moment. 
You  wotild  not  yield  yourself  for  my  poor 
sake? 

[Alexander   spreads   out    his    arms 

again.     His  voice  trembles  a  little, 

Alexander.    Do  you  not   know  my 

love  is  strong  as  yours  ? 

[He  turns  from  her  to  conceal  his  emotion 

and  goes  to  the  door,  lifting  the  flap 

and  looking  out.     There  are  golden 

sunset  clouds  in  the  sky,  and  between 

them  shines  the   evening   star.     He 

fastens  the  flap  so  that  it  stays  open. 

See,  evening  comes  and  dawn  will  follow 

soon ; 
We  crowd  a  life  of  passion  in  one  night, 
So  let  us  not  delay. 

{They  stand  silent  a  moment, 
YzDRA.  A  single  night! 


sc.  IV  YZDRA  165 

Alexander.    To-morrow  Hesperus 
looks  not  on  me ; 
I  bid  the  world  farewell.     You  told  me 

once 
You  used  to  dream  that  souls  of  heroes 

dead 
Came  back  in  sunsets.     Will  you  feel  me, 

Love, 

Glow  all  about  you  when  the  west  is  bright 

In  after  years  ?    Now  quickly  come  to  me ; 

The  night  is  very  short  and  death  ends  all. 

\H.e  turns  toward  her  and  steps  forward. 

YzDRA.     If  you  shotdd  die  I  could  no 

longer  live. 
[Alexander  takes  a  scroll  from  his  girdle. 
Alexander.     I  here  have  written  out 
my  last  commands. 
Hephaestion,  who  thinks  not  of  my  death. 
Will  come  at  dawn,  and  if  I  then    be 
dead. 


1 66  YZDRA  ACT  iir 

This  shows  what  course  to  follow.     You, 

my  Queen, 
Have  India  for  your  realm,  and  with  you 

stay 
Some  Greeks  until  the  country  owns  your 

rule. 
No  other  way  there  is.     Come  quickly  now  \ 
We  have  so  long  delayed  that  love  is  pain. 
YzDRA.     The  hour  I  sought  has  come 
at  last  too  soon. 

[Alexander  lays  his  sword  and  dagger 
on  a  table.     A  shout  is  heard  in  the 
distance. 
What  noise  is  that? 

Alexander,    [going  to  the  door.]    Some 
tumult  in  the  camp. 
The  men  are  revelling;  they  do  not  guess 
That  I  no  more  shall  lead  to  victory. 

[The  watch' fires  are  seen  through  the 
still  open  door.     The  sunset  has  now 


sc.  IV  YZDRA  167 

^aded  from  the  sky.  He  stands  look- 
ing out  toward  the  camp  and  Yzdra 
watches  him  sadly.  Then  she  looks 
down  at  the  dagger,  starts,  and  looks 
hack  at  him. 
They  loved  me  well. 

Yzdra.    [Her  voice  trembles  a  little,] 

And  you,  in  turn,  love  them? 
Alexander.    They  have  been  still  my 
friends,  and  they  with  me 
Have  much  endured ;  but  now  I  bid  fare- 
well 
To  friends  and  war  and  yield  myself  to  love. 

[After  a  pause. 
The  men  will  miss  me. 

[Stretching  out  his  arms  toward  the  camp. 
Now  farewell,  farewell 
[Yzdra  suddenly  reaches  her  decision, 
seizes  the  dagger  and  stabs  herself. 
Yzdra.     Farewell,  but  not  to  them. 


l68  YZDRA  ACT  in 

Alexander.  What  have  you  done? 

YzDRA.    The  steel  works  swiftly. 

[She  falls, 
Alexander.  Zeus!  Where  is  the 

wound  ? 

[He  stoops  aver    her,    examining   the 
wound. 
YzDRA.     I  die. 

Alexander.     If  aught  divine  within  me 
dwells, 
Oh,  Ammon,  Father,  now  in  sorest  need. 
Give  aid  unto  thy  son! 

YzDRA.  No  help.     I  die. 

But   you   shall   live  and   conquer   other 
worlds. 
Alexander.    There   are   no   more   to 

conquer,  all  is  done. 
Yzdra.     Grieve  not  for  me ;  I  loved  you 
far  too  well 
To  let  you  die. 


sc.  IV  YZDRA  169 

Alexander.     Go  not,  go  not  so  soon! 
YzDRA.     I  cannot  stay;  but  you  for  love 
must  spare 
My  father  and  my  nation. 

Alexander.  God!  No  help! 

One  kiss!  I  come  with  you. 
YzDRA.    [Verywildly.]    Not  that!    Not 
that! 

[Alexander  throws  himself  down  be-- 

side  her  and  kisses  her.     After  a 

pause  he  starts  up, 

Alexander.     I  taste  no  poison  there! 

Yzdra.  Not  there! 

Alex ANDE  r.  Too  late ! 

It  may  be  that  it  was  not  there  at  all. 

YzDRA.     [With  intense   bitterness.]    Oh 
God,  too  late!  too  late! 

[Slowly  the  bitterness  leaves  her  face  and 
in  its  stead  comes  serenity  ^  which  in 
turn  yields  suddenly  to  radiant  joy. 


I^O  YZDRA  ACT  III 

You  will  not  die ! 

\She  die.s.     Alexander  hends  over  her 

for  a  moment,  then  rises  to  his  full 

height,  stretching  out  his  urms  toman^ 

the  sky. 

Alexander.     Past  help  of  gods  <^  m^, 

Fate  works  its  will. 


THE    END 


NOTE  ON  THE  SOURCE  OF  "YZDRA" 

The  Secreta  Secretorunt,  the  book  from  which  the 
tftory  of  Yzdra  is  taken,  purports  to  have  been 
written  by  Aristotle  in  his  old  age  as  a  manual  of 
guidance  for  his  pupil  Alexander,  and  contains  much 
curious  advice  on  almost  every  subject:  how  to 
judge  a  man's  character  by  the  shape  of  his  nose; 
in  what  position  of  the  heavens  it  is  advisable  to 
take  physic;  how  a  king  should  comport  himself 
under  all  circumstances;  etc.  The  advice  is  given 
in  the  greatest  detail  and  the  volume  is  almost  an 
encyclopedia  of  ancient  scientific  and  magical 
knowledge. 

At  the  opening  is  a  letter  from  Alexander,  re- 
questing Aristotle's  advice,  and  then  follows  the 
answer  in  which  the  philosopher  says  that,  as  he  is 
too  old  to  accompany  Alexander  in  his  course  of 
conquest,  he  will  write  down  for  him  a  summary 
of  all  his  knowledge,  but,  lest  the  treatise  should 
come  into  profane  hands,  he  writes  it  as  a  mystery, 
to  which  Alexander  alone  shall  have  the  key.  The 
inference  in  the  story  of  the  poisoned  maiden  that 
Aristotle  was  with  Alexander  in  India,  is  not  only 
false  in  itself,  but  contrary  to  the  general  statement 
of  the  book. 

The  probability  as  to  its  origin  is  that  sometime 
in  the  eighth  century  a.d.  a  Syrian  Christian  physi- 
cian collected  the  materials  from  Greek  and  other 
sources,  and,  realising  in  a  quite  up-to-date  manner 
171 


172  YZDRA 

the  obvious  advantages  of  passing  off  his  book  as  a 
translation  of  a  lost  work  of  Aristotle's,  gave  it  this 
form.  The  actual  composition  seems  to  have  been 
in  the  Syriac  language,  called  in  the  text  Chalden. 
At  a  later  date,  the  author  himself  probably  tran- 
slated his  work  into  Arabic,  and  presented  it  with 
a  sort  of  dedicatory  prologue  to  some  Mahomedan 
ruler. 

About  the  year  1 140,  a  renegade  Jewish  physician 
of  Spain  found  part  of  the  Arabic  text  and  put  it 
into  Latin,  but  the  complete  Arabic  text  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  translated  until  a  French  clerk 
found  a  copy  at  Antioch  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
twelfth,  or  early  in  the  thirteenth  century.  This 
he  translated  into  Latin  by  the  order  of  a  French 
bishop  of  Tripoli,  and  his  version  quickly  spread 
through  Europe.  It  was  translated  into  most  of 
the  vulgar  tongues,  copied  from  manuscript  to 
manuscript,  commented  upon  in  perfect  good  faith, 
or  imitated  by  many  of  the  distinguished  scholars 
of  the  time,  and  finally  the  invention  of  printing 
still  more  widely  disseminated  it.  Editions  were 
still  being  made  in  the  eighteenth  century.  While 
the  great  vogue  of  the  book  during  the  Middle  Ages 
and  the  Renascence  was  caused  chiefly  by  the  pres- 
tige of  Aristotle's  name,  it  is  likely  that  its  popu- 
larity was  partly  due  also  to  the  fact  that  it  could 
be  regarded  as  a  portion  of  the  Alexander  cycle  of 
romances,  then  as  widely  known  as  the  Charle- 
magne or  Arthurian  cycles.  Thomas  Aquinas, 
Roger  Bacon,  Michael  Scot,  and  Albertus  Magnus 
all  either  commented  upon  the  book  or  wrote  some- 
thing in  a  similar  form,  but  perhaps  its  most  no- 
table literary  offspring  is  The  Prince  of  Machiavelli. 


YZDRA  173 

Finally,  having  done  its  work,  it  died ;  but  the  story 
of  the  poisoned  maiden,  here  called  Yzdra,  seems 
to  have  sunk  into  the  mind  of  the  race,  and  will 
perhaps  be  told  now  and  again  until  the  end  of 
time. 

This  story  was  apparently  first  told,  apart  from 
its  context,  and  with  variations,  in  the  Gesta  Roman- 
orum,  where  the  old  monks  treated  it  as  an  allegory 
in  which  Man  (Alexander)  was  saved  by  the  work- 
ings of  the  Holy  Ghost  (Aristotle's  wisdom)  from 
the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil.  It  would  be  in- 
teresting if  someone,  who  cared  more  for  symbolism 
and  psychology  than  for  romance,  would  use  the 
legend  and  interpret  its  latent  allegory  in  a  modern 
way,  making  the  poison  work  a  slow  degeneration 
of  the  spirit. 

From  some  one  of  the  early  versions  the  story 
was  taken  by  Sir  Thomas  Browne,  who  says  that  the 
poison  was  aconite,  and  by  Burton,  who  in  the 
Anatomy  of  Melancholy  stated  that  the  maiden  was 
a  daughter  of  Poros,  giving  falsely  as  his  authority 
Q.  Curtius.  She  is  usually  known  simply  as  the 
daughter  of  the  King  or  Queen  of  India  and  some- 
times as  the  daughter  of  the  Queen  of  the  South. 
No  trace  of  it  appears  in  English  literature,  so  far 
as  I  know,  from  the  days  of  Browne  until  the  New 
England  writers  took  it  up.  It  is  quoted  from  the 
French  alchemist,  Mizaldus,  in  Elsie  Venner,  the 
central  idea  of  which  is  identical  with  that  version 
of  the  story  given  in  the  Gesta  Romanorum;  and 
quite  possibly  Hawthorne,  who  tells  it  in  Rap- 
paccini's  Daughter^  developed  the  idea  of  his  some- 
what similar  tale  from  the  legend  here  put  into 
dramatic  form,  but  hitherto — through  twelve  hun- 


1/4  YZDRA 

dred  years  or  more — told  only  in  passing.     It  is  a 
pity  that  Marlowe  or  Webster  did  not  find  it. 

That  version  of  the  story  quoted  at  the  beginning 
of  the  present  volume  is  as  circumstantial  as  any 
except  the  altered  one  in  the  Gesta  Romanorum. 


BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR 

SONGS  FROM  THE  SILENT  LAND 

"Mr.  Ledoux's  poems  strike  a  pure  and  high 
note." — The  Outlook. 

"  Louis  Vernon  Ledoux  has  produced  a  first  book 
which  contains  more  than  promise." — New  York 
Evening  Sun. 

*' There  is  strength  and  a  poetic  appeal  in  all  this 
writer's  work." — The  Globe. 

THE  SOUL'S  PROGRESS  AND  OTHER  POEMS 

**A  little  book  of  this  type  brings  a  full  breath 
of  youth  and  the  green  places  of  the  world  in  its 
absolute  and  serious  insistence  that  the  progress  of 
a  soul,  the  spiritual  evolution  of  a  nature  is  a  matter 
of  deep  human  interest.  The  book's  detachment 
from  the  spirit  of  the  times  is  complete,  and  it  no- 
where touches  the  commonplace;  but  yet  it  comes 
close  to  human  nature  in  its  record  of  inner  exper- 
iences. The  most  important  poem  in  the  book,  the 
summary  of  its  philosophy,  is  'The  Course,'  though 
in  some  of  the  nature  poems  the  beauty  of  diction 
and  imagery  of  the  poet  are  revealed  at  their  best. 

*'The  vision  and  its  passing  is  the  theme  of  the 
book,  the  inner  record  of  life,  the  disillusion  out  of 
which  rises  the  higher  spiritual  meaning  and  the 
optimism  of  the  soul  that  has  found  itself. 

"Mr.  Ledoux  is  a  poet  who  has  written  little,  but 


well,  since  the  critics  hailed  his  first  book,  Songs 
from  the  Silent  Land,  as  a  real  contribution  to 
American  poetry." — Albany  Argus. 

"The  music  of  it  flowed  along  like  a  river  in 
flood  and  I  knew  that,  whatever  he  might  have  put 
into  the  balance  of  his  book,  this  Louis  V.  Ledoux 
was  a  poet — one  who  had  seen  the  vision.  In  this 
exquisite  Prologue,  Ledoux  has  struck  the  key-note 
of  his  genius — a  passionate  longing  for  the  perfect 
things  of  the  spirit, — but  it  is  in  *The  Higher  Opti- 
mism' that  you  begin  to  feel  that  unwavering  trust 
which  characterises  all  poetry  in  its  supreme  mo- 
ments. A  few  extracts  cannot  give  more  than  a 
hint  of  the  effect  of  the  whole,  for  Ledoux  is  more 
than  anything  else  a  singing  intellect  and  his  poetry 
is  reason  with  the  gift  of  wings.  .  .  .  Step  by  step 
with  the  precision  of  a  perfectly  controlled  machine, 
yet  with  a  steadily  mounting  music  that  masters 
you,  this  poem  [The  Course]  traces  the  various 
philosophies  that  have  swayed  the  souls  of  men.  It 
is  indeed  a  wonderful  poem.  To  describe  it  would 
be  to  quote  it  entire." — ^John  G.  Neihardt  in  The 
Pathfinder. 

"This  poet,  Ledoux,  has  written  little,  but  that 
little  has  been  quite  worth  while.  ...  Ledoux  is  a 
poet  worth  reading.  .  .  .  But  for  simple  beauty,  for 
pathos  and  melody,  for  appeal  and  conviction,  *  The 
Last  Symphony'  is  the  poem  of  the  collection."— 
Baltimore  Sun, 

*'The  phrase  'elevation  of  spirit'  is  sufficiently 
hackneyed;  yet  there  is  no  other  which  better  de- 
scribes the  tenor  of  Mr.  Ledoux's  verse.  .  .  .  There 
are  several  admirable  lyrics  in  the  collection." — 
Providence  Journal. 


**It  possesses  some  exquisite  lines,  some  subtle 
passages.  The  theme  itself  is  one  of  great  dignity 
and  is  deeply  and  even  passionately  spiritual.  .  .  . 
The  lyrics  of  the  volume  are  slight,  delicate  things, 
of  an  almost  touching  purity.  Throughout  the 
whole  book  there  is  an  air  convincingly  sincere.** 
— Louisville  Evening  Post. 

**In  this  thoughtful  volume  of  poems  is  confirmed 
the  promise  of  the  author's  earlier  volume." — The 
Outlook. 

"There  is  an  engaging  fervour  in  the  spirit  of  his 
work." — The  Nation. 

"This  is  not  Mr.  Ledoux's  first  work.  He  has 
already  published  Songs  from  the  Silent  Land,  but, 
although  that  book  attracted  much  favourable 
attention,  it  can  hardly  have  prepared  the  reader 
for  the  much  higher  order  of  achievement  here 
presented.  .  .  .  There  can  be  little  question  but 
that  the  long  blank  verse  poem  *  The  Course/  which 
forms  its  core,  is  by  far  the  best  piece,  both  in  respect 
to  diction  and  versification,  that  he  has  yet  given  us. 
.  .  .  The  general  method  of  the  poem  is  through  a 
succession  of  highly  spiritualised  landscape  pictures 
of  great  breadth,  in  which  the  fundamental  features 
of  lofty  pine-topped  crag  and  wide  rolling  river 
emphasise  through  their  physical  symbols  that  note, 
or  rather  atmosphere,  of  sublimity  which  char- 
acterises the  poem  in  its  spiritual  conception.  .  .  . 
There  can  be  no  more  question  of  vocation  in  the 
case  of  Mr.  Ledoux  than  there  is  doubt  of  the 
elevated  spirit  in  which  he  accepts  the  call  to  poetry." 
—William  A.  Bradley  in  The  New  York  Times. 

"Various  volumes  of  verse  from  various  hands 
have  lately  come  to  the  reviewer's  desk,  but  the  one 


which  gives  the  largest  promise  for  the  future  is 
Louis  Ledoux's  The  Soul's  Progress.  The  titular 
piece  in  the  volume  is  a  lyric  sequence  dealing  with 
the  soul's  progress  from  the  hopefulness  of  youth 
through  the  doubts  of  the  middle  years  to  the  serene 
faith  of  old  age.  This  conception  is  worked  out 
with  an  easy  mastery  of  form  and  a  spiritual  ardour 
that  indicate  that  Mr.  Ledoux  should  travel  far  in 
the  years  ahead  of  him." — Brooklyn  Eagle. 

"Some  miscellaneous  poems  of  both  strength 
and  sweetness  round  out  the  volume." — Louisville 
Courier  Journal. 


YB  3175! 


M165777 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


